A mother cow ran for nearly two kilometres (1.2 miles) behind a vehicle that was carrying her new-born calf.

The incident took place at a village near Bellary in South India on April 9.

The cow had given birth at an agricultural field where she had gone to graze. Her owner decided to shift the new-born calf to his house in the village.

He hired an auto-rickshaw and sat inside with the calf. He had planned to return later to fetch the mother.

But the anxious mother refused to be separated from her baby. Though weak and tired, she ran behind the auto-rickshaw as the driver drove slowly to let the cow run by his side.

The mother cow then shadowed the auto-rickshaw all the to the farmer's house which was two kilometres away.

She halted and relaxed only when the calf was returned to her.

A mother cow ran for nearly two kilometres behind a vehicle that was carrying her new-born calf.

The incident took place at a village near Bellary in South India on April 9.

A cow had given birth at an agricultural field where she had gone to graze. Her owner decided to shift the new-born calf to his house in the village.

He hired an auto-rickshaw and sat inside with the calf. He had planned to return later to fetch the mother.

But the anxious mother refused to separate from her baby. Though weak and tired, she ran behind the auto-rickshaw. The driver drove slowly to let the cow run by his side.

The mother cow shadowed the auto-rickshaw all the to the home which was two kilometres away.

She halted and relaxed only when the calf was returned to her.