700kg ‘Donald Trump’ Buffalo Spared From Eid Slaughter, Transferred to Dhaka Zoo

A rare buffalo in Bangladesh, famously nicknamed “Donald Trump” due to its striking blond tuft of hair, has narrowly escaped being sacrificed during Eid al-Adha after authorities stepped in at the final moment.

When the unusual 700kg animal became a hot item on the internet, its fate had already been decided, as it had been sold for ritual slaughter before. The videos and photos of the buffalo spread rapidly throughout social media, attracting a massive number of curious tourists who wanted to see the rare species face-to-face.

The instant visibility raised questions about crowd control and security, officials said. In response, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed directed the release of the buffalo, compensation to the buyer, and its transfer to the national zoo, Dhaka.

Farm owner Ziauddin Mridha told The Associated Press that the nickname “Donald Trump” was given it because his younger brother noticed the buffalo had a strange haircut, sort of like the former U.S. president. He said the animal was well behaved and gentle, and has to be cared for in a special way, bathing and feeding it regularly.

The experts also pointed out that albino or irregularly pigmented buffaloes are very rare in the country where livestock are dark, and the animal is an unusual attraction during the peak season of the cattle trade during Eid.

Moving the buffalo has raised both positive and negative sentiment online, with some lauding the effort for its humanness and others wondering about the interference with a religious ritual sale.

As the story continues to trend, the “Donald Trump buffalo” has become one of the most talked-about symbols of this year’s Eid festivities in Bangladesh.