Thousands of people in Bangladesh are flocking to meet Rani, a dwarf cow who is 51 centimetres (20 inches) tall.
The owners claim that Rani is the world’s smallest cow.
The 23-month-old dwarf cow at a farm near in Charigram, 30 kilometers from Dhaka became media star after scores of newspapers and television stations drool over the prized animal.
There has been a tourist frenzy triggered by Rani’s images on social media.
Rani is 66 centimetres (26 inches long and weighs only 26 kilograms. Her owners say that she is 10 centimetres shorter than the smallest cow in Guinness World Records.
According to news agency AFP, MA Hasan Howlader, manager of Shikor Agro farm, used a tape to measure and show visitors how Rani dwarfs her closest rival Manikyam, a cow in India’s Kerala that currently holds the world record. Manikyam, from the Vechur breed, was 61.1 centimetres tall when her height was measured in 2014.
“People come long distances despite the coronavirus lockdown. Most want to take selfies with Rani,” Howlader told AFP.
“More than 15,000 people have come to see Rani in three days alone. Honestly speaking, we are tired,” he said.
Howlader said that Guinness World Records officials have promised a decision in three months.
Rani is a Bhutti, or Bhutanese, cow which is prized for its meat in Bangladesh. The other Bhuttis on the farm are twice Rani’s size.
“We did not expect such huge interest. We did not think people would leave their homes because of the worsening virus situation. But they have come here in droves,” the Howladar said.
Sajedul Islam, the government’s chief vet for the region, said that Rani is a product of “genetic inbreeding”, adding that she was unlikely to become any bigger.
He added, “I told the farm to not allow many people to crowd the farm as they may carry diseases that can threaten Rani’s health.
(With Inputs From AFP)
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