A cow believed to be the smallest in the world has sadly died after rising to fame.

Last month, pilgrims travelled from far distances to pay homage to two-year-old Rani, a Bhutti cow standing at just 51cms (20 inches) tall and weighed 28kg (62lbs).

The miniature animal, which lived on a farm close to the Bangladesh capital of Dhaka, passed away due to “overeating” and “gas accumulation in her stomach’, local reports confirmed.

Rani was rushed for emergency treatment last week when it was noticed her stomach had swollen up, but vets were unable to do anything to save her and she died “within hours”.

The cow hit the headlines in July when farm manager Hasan Howlader sent off her measurements to the Guinness Book of World Records, hoping to see her take the title of “shortest cow”.

Hasan is believed to have bought Rani in 2020, and more than 15,000 people are reported to have visited her at her farm in Charigram, near Dhaka.

The Guinness World Record for the shortest cow is currently held by Manikyam, in Kerala, India, measuring in at 61.1cms (24 inches).