A stray dog was spotted at the top of one of the Great Pyramids of Giza. The pup was discovered by paragliders as they flew over the Pyramid of Khafre. Since this viral discovery of Boka, the name of the stray, this notion of dogs climbing the pyramid has consumed the media. Identifying the animal was not so easy as Boka’s beige coat blended perfectly with the pyramid.
The man who discovered the animal, Alex Land, has given the dog the nickname “king of the pyramid”. A video of this phenomenon was posted on Wednesday the 16th of October, and clearly shows the dog standing at the top of this ancient landmark.
Alex Lang – the paraglider who discovered the stray – spoke about his experience, detailing in his accounts the effortless and familiar movements of the animal as it climbed the structure. In an interview he described his discovery, “a dog, happy, barking at birds, enjoying the view.”
Running around the top as though it was a park made for him, it appears that this was not the first time the stray had made it up the pyramid. Yet concerns still arose as to the animal’s ability to return from his adventure.
While it was clear that the animal was perfectly comfortable with climbing the structure, it became a discussion online if they same skill would be applied to its descent. Without a sensible way of assisting the animal and with monitoring its movement being too much, tourists and locals left the animal at the top.
Two days after the first video the animal has disappeared, bringing relief to those concerned for its welfare.
There has also been concerns expressed about the potential damages the strays may cause. The Pyramids are almost 5000 years old, questions too their structural security have been raised.
With the number of strays that live the area surrounding the pyramids it is possible that they could hurt the structures if they continue climb it. The confidence of this golden coated pup is what has sparked these concerns. If one dog can climb it can be believed that the other dogs share the same skill.
However, at this time there is no action being taken against these strays.
A second video has emerged following the first, with what is assumed to be Boka climbing down the great pyramid. The stray has the same beige coat colour and showcases the same effortlessness during the climb as what was seen in the initial footage.
When the video first came out there was speculation that the animal was the presence of one of the Egyptian Gods, Anubis. Anubis is the god of Death – more specifically caring for the dead – and has the appearance of a fox. This concept fits in line with Egyptian tradition. With the pyramids being the resting place of many ancient Egyptians, it creates a nice imagery seeing Anubis roaming the Great Pyramids.