The dog – the guardian of Agung. This is what commentators of a viral video called the dog that accompanies climbers to the summit. The video has garnered nearly 6,000 likes. The footage was taken almost at the very top.
"This friendly and tame dog often loyally accompanies tourists along the entire route – from the very start of the trail to the summit of Mount Agung," reports the video author. Its presence not only gives a sense of security. This loyal companion warms your soul during the challenging hike.
Under the video, many recognize the dog and remember its name is Shiro. People urge those who meet the Guardian of Agung at the top to protect and love it, and to share food with it.
Shiro is not the first dog to enjoy daily climbs to 3000 meters. The most famous pair of guide dogs on Agung were Jono (a black dog) and Joni (a white and red female). They were covered by many major Indonesian media outlets.
The dogs lived near the Tirta Giri Kusuma temple and for years accompanied climbers to the very top. Locals said the dogs literally "herded" tourists: if someone fell behind, they would return and wait. After the powerful eruption of the volcano in 2017, Jono and Joni disappeared.
In March 2020, official CCTV cameras installed for monitoring volcanic activity captured a dog standing at the very edge of the crater at an altitude of over 3000 meters.
The head of the Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) confirmed the authenticity of the footage. Many were convinced the dog on the cliff was a descendant or reincarnation of the legendary Jono and Joni.
Currently, several dogs live on the trails of Agung, continuing the tradition. They voluntarily join groups starting the climb at night (usually at 01:00–02:00) and walk with them for 4–6 hours to the summit. Climbers often write in blogs that the dogs help them stay on the right path in the dark.
Not long ago, a tourist discovered a dog with puppies on the ascent to the volcano.
Sources: Denpasar.viral, kompas
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