May 13, 2023 – Mario Bašić (52) from Sinj is the owner of the 33-Year-Old (possibly) Guinness World Record Cock, the oldest in Croatia and probably the world. His rooster Bašo is an “Italian,” the heir of a noble lineage. He thinks they might stand a chance to win.
Bašo did not especially like that the crew of 24Sata disturbed him and disrupted his everyday life. After all, he is a 33-year-old, long-time feathered pet of Mario Bašić (52) from Suhač near Sinj. The Croatian word is kokot or, as they would say in the southern regions, pivac. When experts confirm his age, he could end up in the Guinness Book of Records. Currently, the oldest on the pages of the famous book is a 26-year-old rooster. For Mario, Bašo is not just an ordinary pet; he means much more to him.
“He belonged to my brother Boris, who died three years ago. I keep it now, not only because it has been part of the family for years but also in memory of my brother. He bred Bašo himself at the beginning of the Homeland War; I can’t say precisely if it was in 1990 or 1991, says Mario, who, apart from the, possibly, world record cock, keeps another kokot in the big coop, who could be more than 20 years old. He also keeps laying hens.
Bašo was reluctant to pose for the 24Sata camera, the red comb that fell over one of his eyes hindered him from controlling his surroundings, but Mario wasn’t too bothered because the rooster maybe weighs 200 grams. This, possibly, world record cock is an “Italian,” the heir of a noble lineage.
“All the poultry used to live outside, grazing free, but now we keep them inside. Times are not the same. I’m not letting these two old cocks go out at all. A wolf once “slaughtered” a dozen chickens, and even Bašo was also seriously injured. He managed to recover, though. A few years later, the wolf also died, bit by a viper, and there was no way to save him”, recalls Mario, adding that the chickens are stalked by various predators – eagles, hawks, and even wolves that come down to Suhač, but also to Sinj.
Mario would like to nominate Bašo for the Guinness Book of Records, but since he does not know the procedure, he would like someone to help him. He was told that he could accurately determine Bašo’s age by analyzing his feathers, but he’s got too much work on his farm and no time to deal with that.
Mario, by the way, is a veteran of the Homeland War, and to supplement his household budget, he grows immortelle. He also revealed what Bašo’s favourite treats are. – Dandelion. He adores it – says Mario. We do hope that Bašo ends up carrying the Guinness World Record Cock title that he deserves.
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