A Bangladeshi Interior Ministry official announced on Wednesday that a rare buffalo in the country, nicknamed “Donald Trump” because of its unusual yellow tuft of hair, was saved from being slaughtered for Eid al-Adha after government intervention.
The buffalo, which weighs around 700 kilograms, had previously been sold for sacrifice during Eid. However, after attracting widespread public attention and going viral on social media, government authorities stepped in.
Salahuddin Ahmed, Bangladesh’s Interior Minister, ordered that the animal be exempted from sacrifice, that the buyer receive a full refund, and that the buffalo be transferred to the National Zoo in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh.
An Interior Ministry official said: “At the last moment, it was decided that the buffalo should not be sacrificed because of security concerns and the unusually high level of public attention.”
The animal first gained fame after videos of it were shared on social media. The clips quickly attracted public interest and turned an ordinary Eid livestock purchase into a nationwide news story in Bangladesh.
After the images went viral, large numbers of people visited the farm where the buffalo was kept, and some even traveled from distant areas to see the animal’s yellow tuft and calm behavior in person.
Ziauddin Moridha, the farm owner, said the buffalo was named by his younger brother, who noticed that the animal’s hairstyle resembled that of the U.S. president.
He also added that the buffalo has a very gentle temperament and requires special care, including regular feeding and frequent baths.
Albino buffaloes are extremely rare in Bangladesh, where most livestock are dark-colored. However, many believe it was the controversial name “Donald Trump” that ultimately saved the animal’s life.
According to official statistics, more than 12 million animals including cows, buffaloes, sheep, and goats are expected to be sacrificed during Eid al-Adha in Bangladesh.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
