Kenyan environmentalist Truphena Muthoni hugged 1,234 trees in one hour on May 8 at Jardim Botânico Brasília, provisionally breaking the Guinness World Record previously held at 1,123.
The 22-year-old activist, known as the "Tree Hugger for Justice," exceeded her target of 1,172 trees during her Environmental Awareness Tour. She stated, "Target was 1,172. We reached 1,234." This performance occurred on Friday, May 8, 2026, and remains subject to official ratification by Guinness World Records.
Dr Andrew Karanja, Kenyan Ambassador to Brazil, attended the event along with Deputy Head of Mission Peris Kariuki and Jardim Botânico Brasília President Allan Freire. Kenyan nationals and local residents also gathered to support the attempt.
Muthoni already holds the record for the longest tree-hugging marathon after embracing an indigenous tree in Nyeri for 72 hours in December 2025. Her efforts aim to advocate for the protection of indigenous trees and honour Indigenous knowledge systems.
