- Bobi, a record-breaking canine who was stated to have lived till 31, is now having his age questioned.
- The Guinness World Information stated on Tuesday that it suspended Bobi’s title whereas it investigates.
- Bobi died in October after being topped the world’s oldest canine in February 2023.
In February 2023, the Guinness World Information introduced that it had discovered the world’s oldest residing canine and the oldest canine ever recorded.
Bobi, a Rafeiro do Alentejo in Portugal, was bestowed the accolade on the staggering age of, in response to his proprietor, 30.
Bobi then died in October, making him 31 years previous on the time. However the Guinness World Information is now placing his title on maintain amid a wave of questions over the legitimacy of his declare.
“Whereas our evaluation is ongoing, we now have determined to quickly pause functions on each the file titles for oldest canine residing and ever till all of our findings are in place and have been communicated,” a spokesperson advised the Related Press in a Tuesday report.
Certainly, residing to 31 would have made Bobi the canine equal of round 170 years previous, per the American Veterinary Medical Affiliation’s calculating strategies.
Canines of his breed have a life expectancy of 12 to 14 years.
Bobi’s proprietor, Leonal Costa, advised the Guinness World Information he credited Bobi’s longevity to a weight-reduction plan of human meals and by no means being chained up or leashed.
Nevertheless, observers say there are discrepancies in photographs of Bobi from 1999 — when he would have been 7 — and 2022, noting that his paws are otherwise coloured within the previous and new photographs.
Bobi’s purported age was additionally challenged by Danny Chambers, a council member of the Royal School of Veterinary Surgeons, who advised The Guardian that “not a single one among my veterinary colleagues consider Bobi was truly 31 years previous.”
Chambers’ group is a regulatory physique within the UK that oversees 1000’s of veterinary practices.
Bobi’s age is registered in Portugal’s authorities database, which Guinness World Information stated it checked earlier than giving out the award.
Nevertheless, an investigation by WIRED reported that an official stated the database entry was based mostly on data supplied by Costa, the canine’s proprietor. The outlet wrote a number of instances that Costa didn’t reply to its questions.
Bobi’s file got here simply after Spike, a 23-year-old Chihuahua, was named the oldest residing canine by the Guinness World Information. Two weeks after Spike’s file was introduced, Bobi dethroned the Chihuahua.
Per the AP, Guinness World Information’s spokesperson stated the group was conscious of the general public skepticism towards Bobi’s file and that it obtained notes from veterinarians involved in regards to the validity of his declare.
They advised The Guardian that Bobi’s title was suspended, not taken away from him, as “no motion has been taken about any file holders but.”
If Bobi’s file is stripped from him, the accolade of the world’s oldest-ever canine would return to Bluey, an Australian cattle canine who lived to 29 years and 5 months previous from 1910 to 1939, per the Guinness World Information.
The Guinness World Information’ press workforce didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark despatched outdoors common enterprise hours.
