The secret of the dog barking on top of the pyramid in Egypt

The dog barking atop the pyramid in Giza, Egypt is named Apollo, part of a litter of eight dogs that currently live atop the pyramid of Khafre .

A stray dog ​​became a social media sensation last week when it was spotted barking at birds at the top of the Khafre Pyramid. The video, captured by a paraglider named Alex, has left tens of millions of social media users both delighted and confused. How did the dog get to the top of the pyramid and why is it there?

Apollo roams around Giza, Egypt. (Photo: Vicki Brown/Cairo Animal Rescue Foundation of America).

However, Ibrahim Elbendary, co-founder of the American Cairo Animal Rescue Foundation, immediately took in the dog. This is Apollo (about 3 months old) - one of 8 stray dogs living on top of the Khafre pyramid .

Apollo, his mother Laika (named after a dog sent into space in the 1950s), and their siblings are part of a pack of dozens of stray dogs that live in the pyramids and millions more across Egypt. They are cared for by animal welfare organizations, but these organizations are facing huge challenges in meeting the huge demand.

Most wild dogs in the pyramid area live on the ground, but Laika ventured to the top of the pyramid. Elbendary said she may have found it a safe place to give birth . "Laika is very intelligent, and she and her cubs have made the pyramid their home."

He said the 'most shocking thing' was seeing them hunting birds on top of the Khafre pyramid – the second tallest of the three main pyramids at Giza. The dogs would approach the crows and leap into the air to catch them hundreds of metres above the ground, on rugged rocks.

Apollo the dog barks at birds on top of a pyramid hundreds of meters high. (Photo: @alexlang).

Rescue organizations are trying to care for stray dogs and other animals living in the 4,500-year-old ancient pyramid complex, but their efforts are a "drop in the ocean".

They provide food, water, and medical care for the dogs, as well as help with their adoption to the United States. They also trap, vaccinate, and neuter stray dogs before returning them. Apollo, in particular, 'ran straight to the top of the tower when we tried to get close to him,' and has so far eluded capture, Elbendary said.

Elbendary, 31, said he was a former soldier in the Egyptian army and left the army about seven years ago because of psychological trauma after the bloody war against ISIS. He then worked for a US company but 'didn't feel like life had any meaning' until he started taking care of stray dogs.

"I feel like I'm changing their lives and they're changing mine. With every case I help 'from zero to hero', I feel very happy," he confided.

There are varying estimates of the number of stray dogs in Egypt, but it is believed to be in the millions. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, there are hundreds of thousands of dog bites each year, increasing the risk of rabies.

A paraglider was surprised 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 banded together to transport a stray dog ​​from Cairo named Anubis to the United States for adoption after the top of his mouth was cut off. The year before, a graphic photo of a litter of puppies killed on the streets of Cairo sparked outrage, according to Egypt's al-Ahram newspaper.

Mona Khalil, president of the Egyptian Animal Benevolent Society, said animal welfare organizations face a lack of funding and are hampered by the lack of animal protection regulations in Egypt. The organizations rely on private donations and founders' money to operate. She said sterilization programs for stray dogs should be more widespread.

However, Elbendary and Brown both said they were delighted that the video of Apollo atop the pyramid was shared around the world. They hope it will lead to more attention for stray dogs in Cairo and help convince residents and authorities to care for them.

As for Apollo, Brown said he saw him come down from the pyramid to eat food left by the organization on October 22 and was unaware of his moment of fame. He appears to be happy and healthy.