Ghana man sets world record for hugging over 1,100 trees in an hour

New Delhi,UPDATED: May 8, 2024 12:28 IST

Abubakar Tahiru, a 29-year-old forestry student from Ghana, made headlines by setting a Guinness World Record for hugging as many as 1,123 trees within an hour. A video of his remarkable feat was shared by Guinness World Records on Instagram over the weekend.

The record attempt, conducted at Tuskegee National Forest in Alabama in the USA, required Abubakar to swiftly hug trees, averaging almost 19 hugs per minute. Each hug had to meet strict criteria, with both arms wrapped around the tree in a close embrace. Notably, no tree could be hugged more than once, and no damage was allowed during the attempt.

Speaking about this remarkable achievement, Abubakar said, "Achieving this world record feels incredibly rewarding. It's a meaningful gesture to highlight the crucial role of trees in our ecosystem and the urgency of environmental conservation."

"Most trees hugged in one hour (individual) 1,123 by Abubakar Tahiru", reads the caption of the post.

Watch the video here:

Since being shared online, the video has gone viral with over 9 lakh views on Instagram. Social media users applauded Abubakar for his achievement.

Hailing from a farming community in Tepa, Ghana, Abubakar's passion for nature conservation was nurtured from a young age. After completing his undergraduate studies in forestry at a prestigious university in Ghana, he ventured to Alabama last year to pursue his master's degree at Auburn University.

After setting this world record, Abubakar Tahiru now plans to deepen his involvement in forestry by working on the development of sustainable practices and by collaborating with environmental organisations to promote sustainable projects.