Fame saves 'Trump' buffalo from Eid sacrifice, sent to Bangladesh zoo

A rare albino buffalo in Bangladesh, widely known as "Donald Trump" because of its blond tuft of hair, has been saved from Eid al-Adha sacrifice after the government stepped in at the last moment. The nearly 700-kilogram buffalo had already been sold for ritual slaughter ahead of the Islamic festival. But growing public attention pushed authorities to intervene before the animal could be sacrificed.

Bangladesh's Home Ministry confirmed on Wednesday that the buffalo would instead be transferred to the National Zoo in Dhaka, where it will now live under official care.

The animal became a viral sensation after videos and photographs spread across social media platforms. Large crowds gathered at the farm to see the unusual buffalo, which bears an uncanny resemblance to US President Donald Trump, with many visitors travelling long distances just to take pictures with it.

GOVERNMENT STEPS IN

Officials said Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed ordered that the buffalo be spared. The buyer who purchased the animal for Eid sacrifice will also receive a refund.

"At the last moment, the decision was taken to spare the buffalo from sacrifice due to security concerns and the unusual level of public interest," a ministry official told news agency Reuters.

Mohammad Ruhul Quddus, officer-in-charge of Dhaka's Keraniganj Police Station, said authorities believed the albino buffalo was still young and could live for several more years.

"The livestock department requested us to take the buffalo from the owner as it is a rare animal," he told news agency AFP.

The buffalo has now been shifted to the Bangladesh National Zoo, where caretakers have prepared a separate enclosure for it. Zoo curator Atiqur Rahman said the animal would remain under quarantine for two weeks before being introduced to the public.

"We have designated a shed for the albino buffalo and assigned a caregiver," Rahman said.

HOW THE BUFFALO BECAME A SOCIAL MEDIA STAR

The buffalo belonged to 38-year-old farmer Zia Uddin Mridha, who said the nickname "Trump" came from his younger brother. According to the family, the buffalo's thick blond hair reminded them of US President Donald Trump.

What started as a joke soon turned into a nationwide attraction.

Mridha said the farm turned into attraction as crowds poured in to catch a glimpse of the now-famous buffalo. Social media users, children and entire families gathered around the animal from morning till evening, many eager to snap selfies, record videos and meet the internet sensation in person.

The owner described the buffalo as unusually calm and friendly. He also said the animal required extra care, including regular feeding and frequent bathing.

Despite the growing fame, Mridha eventually sold the buffalo ahead of Eid al-Adha, one of the biggest religious festivals in Bangladesh.

More than 12 million livestock animals, including cows, goats, sheep and buffaloes, are expected to be sacrificed during Eid celebrations in Bangladesh this year. Albino buffaloes are extremely rare in Bangladesh, where dark-coloured cattle are far more common. But many believe the buffalo's unusual appearance alone was not the only reason it survived.