Bangladesh’s viral ‘Donald Trump’ buffalo escapes Eid sacrifice, heads to zoo instead

A rare albino buffalo in Bangladesh, nicknamed “Donald Trump” because of its distinctive blond tuft of hair, has been spared from Eidul Azha sacrifice after authorities intervened amid growing public fascination with the animal.

The buffalo, weighing close to 700 kilograms, had already been purchased for ritual slaughter ahead of the Islamic festival when the government stepped in at the last moment. Officials said the unusual level of attention surrounding the animal had raised security and crowd management concerns.

Following orders from Bangladesh’s Home Ministry, the buyer was refunded and the buffalo was relocated to the national zoo in Dhaka for protection.

Online fame sparks public frenzy

Videos and photographs of the buffalo spread rapidly across social media in recent days, drawing large crowds to the farm where it was being kept. Curious visitors reportedly travelled from distant areas to catch a glimpse of the animal, whose pale colouring and blond fringe stood out among the mostly dark-coloured cattle commonly seen in Bangladesh.

Many online users compared the buffalo’s appearance to that of US President Donald Trump, inspiring the nickname that quickly went viral.

A Home Ministry official said the decision to halt the sacrifice was made shortly before Eid celebrations began due to concerns about the growing number of visitors gathering around the animal.

Authorities feared the attention could create law and order issues during one of the busiest periods of the year, when livestock markets across the country are packed with buyers and sellers preparing for Eidul Azha.

Rare albino animal gains national attention

Farm owner Ziauddin Mridha said the buffalo’s unusual nickname was first suggested by his younger brother, who noticed a resemblance between the animal’s blond hair and the hairstyle associated with the American president.

Mridha described the buffalo as calm and unusually gentle in temperament, adding that caring for it required special attention. According to him, the animal needed frequent feeding, regular bathing and close monitoring because of its rare condition.

Albino buffaloes are considered extremely uncommon in Bangladesh, making the animal a major attraction during the Eid livestock season.

The buffalo’s relocation to Dhaka zoo has now turned it into something of a national celebrity, with many Bangladeshis welcoming the government’s decision to preserve the animal rather than allow it to be sacrificed.

Eidul Azha, also known as the Festival of Sacrifice, is marked by Muslims around the world through the ritual slaughter of animals such as cows, goats and buffaloes, commemorating Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God.