Bobi, the dog previously recognized as the world's oldest, has been posthumously dethroned due to a controversy surrounding his true age.

Guinness World Records (GWR) stated that there was insufficient evidence to confirm the age of the elderly canine, who passed away last year.

The organization expressed doubts about the validity of the microchip purportedly validating Bobi's age, which was used as the basis for awarding him the title in February of the previous year.

GWR has yet to determine the new record holder for the world's oldest dog.

Bobi hailed from Conqueiros, Portugal, and belonged to the Rafeiro do Alentejo breed, known for its typical lifespan of 12-14 years. Despite this, Bobi's age was claimed to be 30 years when he received the title.

Bobi passed away in October 2023, reportedly at the age of 31 years and 165 days.

In response to doubts regarding the reliability of the evidence supporting Bobi's age, GWR initiated an investigation last month.

GWR said: "We're left with no conclusive evidence which can definitively prove Bobi's date of birth.

"Without any conclusive evidence available to us right now, we simply can't retain Bobi as the record holder."

Bobi's owner, Leonel Costa, has not commented on the record's removal, but had previously said suspicions over the veracity of the dog's age were "unfounded".

Last month, Danny Chambers of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons told the Guardian that "not a single one" of his vet colleagues believed that the dog lived to 31.

The previous oldest dog ever was Australia's Bluey, who died in 1939 at the age of 29 years and five months.

Noted