The dog barking at the top of the pyramid in Giza, Egypt, is named Apollo, part of a pack of 8 dogs currently living atop the Khafre Pyramid.
Last week, a stray dog became the center of attention on social media when it was spotted barking at birds from the peak of the Khafre Pyramid. The video, recorded by a paragliding enthusiast named Alex, left tens of millions of social media users both amused and confused. How did this dog make it to the top of the pyramid, and why is it there?
Apollo wandering around Giza, Egypt. (Photo: Vicki Brown/American Cairo Animal Rescue Foundation).
However, Ibrahim Elbendary, co-founder of the American Cairo Animal Rescue Foundation, promptly recognized this dog. This is Apollo (approximately 3 months old) – one of 8 stray dogs living atop the Khafre Pyramid.
Apollo, Laika – his mother (named after a dog sent to space in the 1950s), and their siblings are part of a pack of dozens of stray dogs residing in the pyramid area, with millions more scattered across Egypt. They are cared for by animal welfare organizations, which are facing significant challenges in meeting the overwhelming demand.
Most stray dogs in the pyramid area typically live on the ground, but Laika bravely climbed to the top of the pyramid. Elbendary speculates it might be because she found the spot safe for giving birth. “Laika is very intelligent; she and her puppies have made the pyramid their home.”
He mentioned that “the most shocking thing” was seeing them hunt birds at the top of the Khafre Pyramid – the second tallest of the three major pyramids in Giza. The dogs would get close to the crows and leap into the air to catch them from heights of several hundred meters above ground, on rocky ledges.
Apollo barking at birds from the top of the pyramid. (Photo: @alexlang).
The rescue organization strives to care for the stray dogs and other animals living in the ancient 4,500-year-old pyramid complex; however, their efforts are merely a “drop in the ocean.”
They provide food, water, and medical care for the dogs, as well as facilitate dog adoptions to the U.S. Additionally, they trap, vaccinate, and sterilize stray dogs before returning them. Apollo, in particular, “ran straight to the top of the pyramid when we tried to approach” and has been evading capture ever since, Elbendary stated.
Elbendary (31 years old) shared that he is a former soldier of the Egyptian Army, having left about 7 years ago due to PTSD after the bloody conflict against ISIS. He later worked for an American company but “didn’t feel life had meaning” until he began caring for stray dogs.
“I feel like I’m changing their lives, and they are changing mine. With every case I help ‘from zero to hero,’ I feel incredibly happy,” he expressed.
There are various statistics regarding the number of stray dogs in Egypt, but it is believed there are millions. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, there are hundreds of thousands of dog bite cases each year, increasing the risk of rabies.
A paragliding enthusiast was astonished to see a dog on top of the Khafre Pyramid in Giza, Egypt. (Photo: 123RF).
Violence against dogs is not uncommon. In 2016, a group of strangers transported a stray dog named Anubis from Cairo to the U.S. for adoption after the upper part of its snout had been cut off. The previous year, a graphic photo of a litter of puppies being killed on the streets of Cairo sparked outrage, according to the Egyptian newspaper al-Ahram.
Mona Khalil, president of the Egyptian Animal Welfare Society, stated that animal welfare organizations face funding shortages and are hindered by a lack of animal protection regulations in Egypt. These organizations operate based on funding from private donations and the founders’ money. She believes that spaying programs for stray dogs should be more widely implemented.
However, both Elbendary and Brown expressed their delight that the video of Apollo at the top of the pyramid is being shared worldwide. They hope this will lead to increased awareness of stray dogs in Cairo and help persuade residents and authorities to care for them.
As for Apollo, Brown noted that she saw him come down from the pyramid to eat food left by the organization on October 22, unaware of his newfound fame. He still appears happy and healthy.
