A Ghanaian man named Abubakar Tahiru has made history by breaking the Guinness World Record for hugging over 1100 trees in just one hour.
Abubakar, an environmental activist and forestry student, embraced a total of 1,123 trees, averaging nearly 19 hugs per minute to achieve this remarkable feat.
Growing up in a farming community in Tepa, Ghana, Abubakar developed a deep passion for nature and its preservation.
After completing his undergraduate studies in forestry at a prestigious university in Ghana, he moved to Alabama, USA, last year to pursue a master’s degree in forestry at Auburn University.
The record-breaking event took place at Tuskegee National Forest, one of Alabama’s four national forests known for its abundant timber resources.
According to the guidelines, a hug is defined as wrapping both arms around a tree in a close embrace, with no tree being hugged more than once and no damage being caused to any tree, failing which the attempt would be disqualified.
Abubakar mentioned that the most challenging part of the attempt was swiftly moving between trees while ensuring each hug met the required standards.
The repetitive hugging motion also proved to be physically demanding. Adding to the difficulty was the fact that he was fasting for Ramadan during the attempt, restricting him from consuming any water.
“Not being able to drink water throughout the attempt posed a significant challenge, especially given the physical exertion required,” Abubakar said.
“However, this also proved to be helpful in a way, as there was no need to pause for water breaks, allowing me to continue the attempt uninterrupted from start to finish.”
Averaging one hug every three seconds, Abubakar easily surpassed the minimum requirement of 700 to become the first holder of this record.
“Achieving this world record feels incredibly rewarding,” he said.
“It’s a meaningful gesture to highlight the crucial role of trees in our ecosystem and the urgency of environmental conservation.”
