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Cairo (AFP) – Under the blazing Egyptian sun, crowds at the pyramids of Giza gazed up at the ancient wonders, but some had their eyes on a new attraction.
“There he is,” said a Polish tourist to his wife when they saw a disheveled dog sitting on one of the stones.
They were talking about Apollo, a wanderer who became a sensation last month after he was filmed climbing the Great Pyramid of Khafre, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
The viral footage, captured by American paragliding enthusiast Alex Lang and shared online by his friend Marshall Mosher, showed Apollo fearlessly climbing the 136-metre-high monument, barking at birds from the top.
“He behaved like a king,” Lang told AFP.
As news of Apollo’s daring ascent spread worldwide, interest grew in the dogs that have long made their home among the ancient stones.
“He’s climbing there,” said Arkadiusz Jurys, a tourist from Poland, as he craned his neck for a better view.
“It’s unusual,” he added, describing Apollo taking in the breathtaking crowd from above.
Another visitor, Diego Vega from Argentina, felt a special bond with the dogs.
“Connecting with them feels like connecting with the Pharaohs,” he said, petting a member of Apollo’s pack.
Sales up
Apollo’s newfound fame has even inspired local guides to include him and his pack in their stories for tourists.
“This is Anubis,” a guide told two American tourists, comparing Apollo, now known as the “pyramid puppy,” to the ancient Egyptian god of the dead, often depicted as a man with the head of a jackal.
“He and his pack are now part of our tour conversations,” says Sobhi Fakhry, another tour guide.
Businesses around the Giza Plateau are also seeing a boost.
Umm Basma, a 43-year-old woman who sells souvenirs near the Khafre Pyramid, reported an increase in sales thanks to the influx of tourists eager to meet the so-called pyramid dogs.
“We have always seen these dogs climbing the pyramids, but we never thought they would become a blessing to us,” she said.
A pyramid guard, who preferred to remain anonymous, also said some celebrities had paid for permits to have their own dogs photographed with Apollo.
Apollo, a three-year-old Baladi dog, is part of a pack of about eight people who have made their home among the ancient ruins.
The dogs, a local breed, are known for their resilience, intelligence and ability to survive in Egypt’s harsh climate.
Ibrahim el-Bendary, co-founder of the US-based Cairo Animal Rescue Foundation, which oversees the pyramid dogs, described Apollo as the “alpha male” of the pack.
“He is the bravest and strongest in his pack,” he said.
Apollo was born in a rocky crevice in the pyramid of Khafre, where his mother, Laika, found shelter. Unfortunately, some of Apollo’s siblings did not survive the perilous heights of the site.
A sympathetic guard eventually moved Laika to a safer place where Apollo now stands out with his signature curled tail and confident nature.
Dog adoption
Lang and Marshall’s initial focus was on the daring dog climber, but their visit led to a deeper connection with Cairo’s stray dogs.
Intrigued by the challenges they face, Mosher decided to adopt a puppy from the pack: Anubi, the daughter of Apollo.
Anubi will join Marshall in the US after receiving the dedicated care she needs to grow up healthy in Egypt.
At the pyramids, local animal care groups are now working with the government to set up food and water stations for the strays, as well as other animals including camels and horses.
A permanent veterinary center will be established at the pyramids, where staff will receive training in animal care, Egypt’s tourism minister said.
Vicki Michelle Brown, the other co-founder of the American Cairo Animal Rescue Foundation, believes Apollo’s story can make a difference.
“It sheds so much light on the dogs and cats that are here,” Brown said.
“I absolutely believe that him (Apollo) climbing the pyramids can help all the dogs in Egypt live a better life.”
© 2024 AFP