Phantoms and Monsters: Paranormal, UFOs, Cryptids and Unexplained Phenomena

Britain's tallest bullock which stood higher than an average horse has died - from arthritis caused by his huge girth. Chilli, the gigantic steer at Ferne Animal Sanctuary, near Chard, Somerset, has been put to sleep after his arthritis became too painful.

The black and white Friesian, which stood 6-ft 6-in tall and weighed more than a ton, attracted worldwide media attention in May last year with hundreds of visitors visiting the sanctuary to see him.

Chilli was left at the front gates at Ferne as a six-day-old calf in 1999 and grew to become Britain's tallest bovine nine years later. In May last year, sanctuary manager Naomi Clarke talked about Chilli's size.

"We don't know what has made him so tall," she said. "He doesn't eat that much and his sister Jubilee is only 6ft in comparison. Chilli's feet and head are in proportion, he is just very large, very friendly and gentle cow."

In a statement, the sanctuary said it had had to follow the vet's advice. It said: "Very sadly, his size proved to be his disadvantage.

"His joints were just not strong enough to cope with his weight and they became more and more arthritic. On our vet's advice he was put to sleep and this has, literally, left a very large hole in everyone's life here."
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Originally posted May 13, 2008

His name is Chilli and he's described as a gentle giant.

Which is just as well for his handler, Tara Nirula, pictured by his side.

His owners have contacted the Guinness Book of Records who are currently assessing his credentials and comparing them to other big bovines.

The black and white Friesian bullock weighs well over a ton and at the same height as a small elephant, casts a shadow over his cattle companions who are about 5ft.

Despite his grand stature, Chilli only grazes on grass during the day and enjoys the occasional swede as a treat.

The heifer, who is almost as high as he is long, lives at the Ferne Animal Sanctuary in Chard, Somerset, after he was left on their doorstep aged just six-days-old.

Nine years on, Chilli has kept on growing, and staff believe the giant will smash a record for Britain's tallest ever cow.

Naomi Clarke, manager at the sanctuary, said: "As Chilli was growing up we began noticing that he was bigger than our other cows.

"He now stands at 6ft 6ins from the floor to the top of his shoulder and he is massive when he holds his head up.

"We have made an application to Guinness Book Of Records and we are quite confident he will get it."

Chilli, who is 6ft 7ins long, was left running around on the doorstep of the sanctuary along with his twin sister Jubilee in 1999.

Over the years, staff noticed Chilli begin to tower over his sister and companions.

But it was only when he failed to fit in a standard cattle cage to have his hooves clipped that they realised just how big he had grown compared to normal bullocks.

Miss Clarke said: "For some reason a farmer decided he didn't want Chilli and Jubilee so dumped them with three others on our doorstep nine years ago.

"He was only six days old and didn't look that big but as the years passed we noticed he was getting rather tall.

"People would always comment on how much bigger he was from the other cows and bulls when they visited the sanctuary.

"He does weigh over a ton but is quite lean and not as fat as some of his companions."

She continued: "We don't know what has made him so tall. He doesn't eat that much and his feet and head are in proportion - he is just very large.

"He is a very friendly and gentle cow so we hopes he manages to break the record - he deserves it."

At present, the tallest bovine in the world is 6ft 8ins Fiorino, who lives in Italy.

A spokeswoman for the Guinness Book Of Records said: "I can confirm that an application has been received for Chilli which is currently under research."

Six months ago another bullock vying for a record breaking spot was The Field Marshal who weighed in at 3,000lb.

At the time he was on course to over take the current British record-holder, his former stablemate The Colonel, who stood 6ft 5in tall and weighed 3,500lb. He died in 2005.

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