Humans aren’t the only species that can inspire — these animals have achieved greatness in their own right.
Meet 27 record-breaking wild and domesticated creatures from around the world.
The Oldest-Living Land Animal
Tortoises are known for living about 150 years, but at 189, Jonathan, a Seychelles giant tortoise, has exceeded everyone’s expectations.
He was brought to the island of Saint Helena in 1882 as a young adult of 50 and has called the grounds of the governor’s mansion his home ever since.
His Current Status
As he is showing the telltale signs of age (he is likely completely blind), veterinarians tend to his every need. He receives nutritious fruits and vegetables daily and stimulation from visitors to the island as well the other tortoises.
He’s such an integral part of Saint Helena, that he’s on the island’s 5-pence coin.
The Longest Tongue on a Dog
The current Guinness World Record holder for the canine with the longest tongue belongs to a St. Bernard named Mochi.
The dog’s tongue was measured to be 7.3 inches from “from snout to tip,” according to owner Carla Ricket.
Her Current Status
Mochi is a rescue who was once neglected. Today, she’s thriving and is “resilient, comical, loving and eternally grateful.” She spends her days licking peanut butter and, of course, people’s faces.
However, her award-winning tongue does cause occasional breathing problems and extra slobber. (That’s quite a kiss!)
The Most-Followed Duck on Instagram
Ben Afquack has attained Instagram fame with more than 90,000 followers (and counting).
His social media fame was enough to earn him a Guinness World Record as the Most-Followed Duck on Instagram — yes, it’s a thing! Earlier in 2020, he went viral with a clip of him tapping his feet on a snare drum, which was shared thousands of times over and earned him legions of fans.
His Current Status
Ben lives in St. Paul, Minnesota, with his owner Derek Johnson, who never expected all the attention and takes his BFF (best fowl friend) with him everywhere he goes.
To keep up with their adventures, visit the duo at @minnesotaduck.
The Most Tennis Balls in a Dog’s Mouth at Once
In 2020, a golden retriever named Finley Molloy received his Guinness World Record nod for carrying six tennis balls in his mouth at once.
Finley’s family sent off years’ worth of evidence to the organization before it ruled on his award.
How He Did It
Finley certainly enjoyed the process of all those extra hours of playing, but his family was especially elated when all their hard work finally paid off, and they no longer had to record his every move.
He celebrated the win with a party, a specially made cake and few canine neighborhood friends.
The Most Slam Dunks in 1 Minute by a Rabbit
Bini the Bunny has many talents, including painting, hairstyling, dancing and even playing guitar.
However, his real claim to fame is another proclivity entirely — in 2017, he broke the world record for being the rabbit with the most slam dunks (seven) in one minute.
How He Did It
Bini hails from Israel and made his way to Hollywood with owner Shai Asor. He achieved internet fame soon after that. With more than 131,000 followers on Instagram, he is an adorable inspiration for anyone with a dream.
Asor says, “Bini has taught me that if a bunny can be [an] NBA Star, then you can be whatever you put your mind to as long as people believe in you and you believe in yourself.”
The Longest Domestic Cat
In 2018, a cat named Barivel from Vigevano, Pavia, Italy, was awarded the Guinness World Record for being the longest domestic feline.
The lengthy current title holder measures 3 feet, 11.2 inches from head to tail.
His Current Status
Despite his size, Barivel is a gentle giant.
The reserved Maine Coon enjoys whiling away the hours posting in pictures for Instagram and eating his favorite chicken and tuna dishes.
The Longest Snake in Captivity
In 2011, Medusa, a reticulated python, was awarded the Guinness World Record for the longest snake currently in captivity.
The reptile, who is about 17, is still growing and has plenty of years left to get even bigger, as reticulated pythons can live up to 50 years.
Her Current Status
At the time of her last measurement in 2011, she was 25-feet, 2-inches long. It took 30 people to hold her over several days to get a true measurement.
She weighs about 350 pounds and feasts on raccoons, deer and hogs. (Yes, whole!)
The Tallest Living Horse
At a little more than 6 feet, 8 inches (82 inches or 20.2 hands) Big Jake, a Belgian draught horse, is the tallest of his kind. Born to two average-sized horses, his owners knew he was special, but waited until he was retired from the show ring to contact Guinness.
In 2010, the organization confirmed what his owners already knew.
His Current Status
Today, Big Jake makes appearances at events and helps raise money for charitable organizations.
When not in the public eye, he works as a farm horse and spends time relaxing in his luxury stable.
The Most Rings Placed on a Target by a Macaw in 1 Minute
A Macaw parrot named Skipper Blue became the first of his species to place a record 19 rings on a target in less than a minute in 2016.
So far, no other animal has beaten his record.
How He Did It
Per Guinness rules, his trainer, “Wildlife” Wendy Horton, was not allowed to touch Skipper during the attempt. She could, however, place the rings closer to him and give him positive reinforcement while he carried out the record-breaking task.
Skipper, who is an animal actor in Los Angeles, bounced for joy upon receiving the award.
The Largest-Living Captive Crocodile
Cassius is massive at 17 feet, 11.75 inches.
The Australian saltwater croc hails from Green Island National Park and Recreation Area in Queensland, Australia and has called the park’s Marineland Melanesia home since 1987.
His Current Status
He’s estimated to be 110 years old, but is still quite spry and strong. To keep him sated, his caretakers, with whom he’s had a three-decade relationship, feed him by hand throughout the day.
While they have a bond with the croc, they recognize that their safety is of the utmost importance and handle each interaction with great care.
The First Panda Twins Born to a Captive Mother and Wild Father
There are few animals or people who make the record books just by being born, but these panda twins are the exception, as they are the first of their kind to be born from a captive mother and wild father.
He He (“Harmony”) and sister Mei Mei (“Beautiful”) came into the world on July 25, 2018, with great fanfare. Their mother, 17-year-old Cao Cao, had seven previous children with fathers already in captivity.
Their Current Status
What makes the arrival of these pandas so important is their half-captive, half-wild lineage because pandas are notoriously hard to breed, and few reach adulthood.
The China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda hopes to expand their gene pool to create more diversity and resilience to illness.
The Oldest-Living Penguin in Captivity
A Gentoo penguin living in Denmark has achieved fame as the oldest living penguin currently in captivity. Olde (which translates as “great-granny”) was born in 1979 at Edinburgh Zoo in Scotland.
She moved around a bit before putting down roots at Odense Zoo in 2003.
Her Current Status
Olde is a grandmother many times over — her progeny lives in zoos in Scotland, the Netherlands and Ireland.
She lives a quiet, happy life with help from zookeepers, who tend to her every need by separating her meals from the waddle and giving her frequent showers.
The Most Dogs in a Conga Line
In January 2020, pre-teen dog trainer Alexa Lauenburger of Germany led eight dogs into the record books by teaching them how to form a conga line.
The Latin-American dance, often seen at weddings and other celebratory events, is one in which the participants form a chain and make their way around a room.
How They Did It
Lauenburger led the way as the dogs — Emma, Jennifer, Katy, Maya, Nala, Sabrina, Sally and Specki — maintained contact and moved in unison behind her.
Together, they covered 16 feet, 5 inches in the conga line, which was filmed with a Guinness adjudicator on hand.
The Shortest Living Horse
A mini Appaloosa from Poland known as Bombel (“Bubble”) stands at just 1-foot, 10-inches tall from hoof to shoulder blades.
This currently makes him the world’s shortest horse, according to Guinness World Records.
His Current Status
Bombel lives at the KasKada stud farm in ?ód? among normal-sized horses and easily fits in with his outgoing, fun personality.
As a result of his friendly temperament, he’s also an emotional therapy horse who works with hospitalized children.
The Most Tricks Performed by a Pig in 1 Minute
A pig in Newton, Iowa, has made a name for herself after winning the Guinness title for completing the most tricks in one minute.
Owned by theater-owner Dawn Bleeker, Joy has entertained locals with her talents for years.
How She Did It
When allowed to strut her stuff in front of a Guinness adjudicator, she was cool, calm and collected, but Bleeker was nervous. As a result, it took three attempts for Joy to complete 13 tricks and make it into the record books.
“I never thought I would own a pig that broke world records … to me, she’s still just my beloved pet,” Bleeker said.
The Oldest-Living, Two-Toed Sloth
A sloth living in the wild may make it to 20; in captivity, they live another 20 to 30 years.
Jan has lived in Krefeld Zoo in Germany since April 1986, and he arrived as a teen. He was found in May 1970, which makes him at least 51 years old.
His Current Status
Despite his advanced age, he is still quite active (well, as active as sloths are, anyway.)
He is a member of the zoo’s breeding program and became a dad for the 18th time in 2019.
The Most Expensive Sheepdog
A good sheepdog is worth its weight in gold; in fact, some go for a pretty penny.
In February 2021, a 12-month-old border collie named Kim sold for a whopping $38,893 (including buyer’s premium) at auction.
Her Current Status
She was trained by breeder and farmer Dewi Jenkins of Talybont-on-Usk, Wales, who says she’s an intelligent pup who can perform any task after seeing it only once.
At not even a year old, the pricey dog is already on the job, guarding and herding sheep at her new home in Newcastle, England.
The Most Tricks by Two Dogs in 1 Minute
Wish and Halo, trained by Emily Larlham of El Cajon, California, worked together to perform 28 tricks in one minute, which placed them in the Guinness World Record books.
Wish also broke a record of her own for the fastest 5-meter crawl, at just 2.175 seconds.
How They Did It
To help her pups achieve greatness, Emily was on hand with positive reinforcement and plenty of treats.
When they’re not making history, Wish and Halo assist with Emily’s YouTube videos, dedicated to helping owners train dogs of all shapes and sizes.
The Bull With the Longest Horn Spread
Cowboy Tuff Chex takes the phrase “grab the bull by the horns” to a new level. According to Guinness, he has the longest horn spread of any living bull, at a whopping 8.6 feet.
The Texas Longhorn bull was already prized when he was purchased at auction by ranchers Richard and Jeanne Filip, who had to buy the widest trailer they could find to transport him safely.
His Current Status
Cowboy resides at the couple’s home, Bentwood Ranch, spending most of his time relaxing and roaming the land.
He’s known worldwide among Longhorn aficionados, who frequently send the Filips requests for his valued offspring.
The Highest Bar Jump Cleared by a Llama
A llama named Caspa made Guinness history by jumping 3 feet, 8.5 inches to clear a bar in June 2015.
So far, his record has gone unchallenged.
How He Did It
The llama, owned by Sue Williams in Cheshire, U.K., was a bit wild when he first came to her. He would spit, kick, and was otherwise unruly. When Sue realized it was because he didn’t trust humans, she changed her training approach.
Eventually, she gained his trust, and he’s been happy to be at her side and in the limelight ever since.
The Longest Horns on a Yak
Jericho is one of Guinness’ most recent record breakers.
He made the 2021 World Records book for having the longest horns on a yak, measuring 136.4 inches or 11.36 feet. ?
His Current Status
Jericho was owned by Melodee Smith, a yak farmer from Welch, Minnesota, who said he had a “royal, respected air about him” and knew he was special from the moment they met in 2014.
Jericho passed away in December 2020, but his memory—and his history-making horns—will live on.
The Cat With the Most Followers on Instagram
Meet Nala, the feline social media influencer with the largest following — 4.3 million followers (and counting) — of any member of her species.
Her “pawrents,” Pookie and Shannon, started her page for friends and family in their native Thailand and had no idea she would become a viral sensation.
How She Did It
The rescue kitty was awarded for her achievement in May 2017 and her owners couldn’t be happier for the recognition.
“Nala didn’t break a previous record — this one was created just for her. This really has been a dream come true and we’re thankful every day. Nala has brought us so much love, happiness and unique experiences,” they said.
The Most Alternating Paw Tricks by a Rat in 30 Seconds…
Luke Roberts of Watford, U.K., is the man responsible for the world record achievements of his two rats, Freddie and Frankie.
Frankie won for most alternating paw tricks by a rat in 30 seconds in October 2019.
… And The Most Jumps Through a Hoop by a Rat in 30 Seconds
In January 2020, Freddie won for most jumps through a hoop by a rat in 30 seconds.
How They Did It
Frankie performed tricks 28 times, and Freddie jumped eight times.?
Roberts adopted “the boys” when they were just three months old. He is also a record-breaker — he and his wife Jess broke the record for the most party poppers popped by a duo in 30 seconds in August 2018.
The Most Expensive Racing Pigeon
A racing pigeon named New Kim shattered records when she was purchased in November 2020 for $1.9 million.
Auction house founder Nikolaas Gyselbrecht was shocked at the price saying, “Usually a male is worth more than a female because it can produce more offspring.”
Her Current Status
Pigeon racing was once a sport of the working class but has since become a pastime of the elite. Birds can fetch hundreds of thousands of dollars, and the prize money is just as high.
Homing pigeons are taken to an area miles away and released to make their way home — the first one that reaches its destination is declared the winner.
The Most Tricks Performed by a Cat in 1 Minute
Alexis and her owner Anika Moritz worked together toward their record-breaking dreams for performing the most cat tricks in a one minute.
All their efforts paid off in June 2020 when they made Guinness World Records history.
How She Did It
Alexis performed 26 tricks in one minute — she rolled out a mat, gave high fives with each paw and rang a bell, among other savvy stunts.
Anika says her goal was to show that cats are “intelligent little creatures who deserve to be treated well … Alexis and I will continue to train trying to re-break our own record because we would like to accomplish the 30 tricks in one minute.”
The Oldest-Living Banded Bird
At 69, Wisdom, a Laysan albatross, currently holds the record for the oldest-banded bird in the world.
She was born around 1951 and was first banded in 1956 as part of an albatross population study at the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge.
Her Current Status
Wisdom is said to have flown more than three million miles since then. She’s also laid 30 to 40 eggs in her lifetime, and her most recent chick hatched on February 1, 2021.
Congratulations to the new mom!
