Tuntuni may be the next shortest living cow!

Published at 08:18 pm October 6th, 2021

The dwarf cow named Tuntuni at a cattle farm in Gosinga union under Sreepur upazila of Gazipur district Dhaka Tribune

‘She is delightful, always running and playing around the house’

After Rani, posthumously recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as “the world's shortest cow”, another dwarf cow has now come under the spotlight for the possibility of setting a similar record.

The 14-month-old Tuntuni, standing just 22 inches high and weighing 23kg, has been creating quite a buzz among local residents in Gazipur.

She was born in July last year on the farm of Abul Kashem, a farmer from Hayatkharchala village in Gosinga union under Sreepur upazila of the district.

Abul Kashem said: “Tuntuni's mother had given birth to eight more calves before her. They were all born with normal body structures. However, Tuntuni was born the size of a rabbit. The calf was so small that it had to be held high and placed on the udder during feeding time.”

Meanwhile, Kashem’s wife Zarina Begum said: “I care for Tuntuni like my own. She is delightful, always running and playing around the house. Now that she has become popular with the local villagers, she is always swarmed by fans who come to see her and take pictures.”

“I have never seen anything like this in my life,” said visitor Shamsunnahar.

Previously, measuring 20 inches in height, and weighing just 26kg, Rani had risen to fame in July 2021 after videos and images of her stature went viral. Sadly, the following month, on August 19, she passed away after suffering a stomach swelling.

Speaking to Dhaka Tribune, Sreepur Upazila Livestock Officer Rukunuzzaman said: “Usually calves of the local breed weigh around 15-20kg right after birth and can reach up to 80-100kg in a year’s time. But this has not been so in Tuntuni’s case as it’s a dwarf cow.

“This calf has the potential to set a world record. If it qualifies for a place in the Guinness Book of World Records then we will make necessary arrangements.”

Dwarfism in cows is caused by a genetic mutation and can be lethal for some breeds. In many cases, it is accompanied by DNA-related problems. This condition has been recognized as a hereditary disease in some breeds of cattle.