Thousands of people are defying a nationwide coronavirus lockdown in Bangladesh to see Rani, a 20 inch (51 centimetre) tall cow whose owners claim it is the world's smallest.
The 23-month-old dwarf cow has become a media star with scores of newspapers and television stations throwing the spotlight on the tiny bovine at a farm near Dhaka.
Rani is 26 inches (66 centimetres) long and weighs only 57 pounds (26 kilograms) but the owners say it is four inches shorter than the smallest cow in Guinness World Records.
Pictures of Rani on social media platforms have set off a tourist frenzy.
Rani is 26 inches long and weighs only 57 pounds but the owners say it is four inches shorter than the smallest cow in Guinness World Records.
23-month-old dwarf cow has become a media star and scores of newspapers and television stations have flocked to cover the tiny bovine at a farm near Dhaka
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
Despite a nationwide transport shutdown because of record coronavirus infections and deaths, people are flocking in rickshaws to the farm in Charigram 19 miles southwest of Dhaka.
Bangladeshi authorities yesterday reported 11,525 new Covid cases, the highest in a day since the pandemic began, sparking fears that there will soon be a shortage of medical oxygen used to treat patients with severe cases.
Neighbouring India is embroiled in a second wave of coronavirus, which has killed over hundreds of thousands and infected well over 30 million.
'I have never seen anything like this in my life. Never,' said Rina Begum, 30, who came from a neighbouring town.
M.A. Hasan Howlader, manager of Shikor Agro farm, used a tape measure to show dozens of onlookers how Rani dwarfs her closest rival Manikyam, a cow in the Indian state Kerala that currently holds the world record.
Shikar Agro farm reportedly bought the cow from a farm in Naogaon shortly after its birth.
'People come long distances despite the coronavirus lockdown. Most want to take selfies with Rani,' Howlader told AFP, adding Guinness World Records had promised a decision in three months.
'More than 15,000 people have come to see Rani in the past three days alone,' he said.
'Honestly speaking, we are tired.'
Guinness World Records said Manikyam, from the Vechur breed, was 24 inches (61 centimetres) high in June 2014.
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Even regular sized goats dwarf Rani, whose status as the smallest cow in the world will be decided by Guinness World Record adjudicators in three months
Sajedul Islam, the government's chief vet for the region, said Rani is a product of 'genetic inbreeding' and was unlikely to become any bigger
M.A. Hasan Howlader, manager of Shikor Agro farm, used a tape measure to show dozens of onlookers how Rani dwarfs her closest rival Manikyam, a cow in the Indian state Kerala that currently holds the world record
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,' the farm manager said.
'We did not think people would leave their homes because of the worsening virus situation. But they have come here in droves.'
Sajedul Islam, the government's chief vet for the region, said Rani is a product of 'genetic inbreeding' and was unlikely to become any bigger.
Islam said he had told the farm to restrict the tourist influx.
'I told them they should not allow so many people to crowd the farm.
'They may carry diseases here that threaten Rani's health,' he said.
'I have never seen anything like this in my life. Never,' said Rina Begum, 30, who came from a neighbouring town