The Bangladesh government has ordered the suspension of the ritual slaughter of a rare albino buffalo named "Donald Trump" because of its golden hair resembling the hairstyle of the former U.S. president, during the religious ceremonies of the Eid al-Adha festival, and has relocated the animal to the National Zoo in Dhaka.
The male albino buffalo in Bangladesh, nicknamed "Donald Trump" due to its distinctive flowing blonde-golden hair resembling the unique hairstyle of the former U.S. president, has been spared from ritual slaughter. After gaining nationwide fame, the buffalo will be sent to the National Zoo for further care.
Bangladesh, a predominantly Muslim country with about 170 million people, was scheduled to celebrate the "Eid al-Adha" festival, or the Festival of Sacrifice, today (28 May). Traditionally, over 12 million livestock including goats, sheep, cattle, and buffaloes are slaughtered as offerings during this holiday, which is a rare occasion for poor families to enjoy meat.
Originally, the nearly 700-kilogram albino buffalo had been sold to a buyer preparing for the ritual slaughter. However, just hours before the scheduled event, the Bangladesh government intervened urgently. Salahuddin Ahmed, Minister of Home Affairs, ordered the suspension of the slaughter, instructed a refund to the buyer, and arranged for the animal’s transfer to the National Zoo in Dhaka.
An official from the Ministry of Home Affairs revealed, "We decided to spare this buffalo from sacrifice at the last minute due to safety concerns and overwhelming public interest."
The story began as a typical livestock sale during the festival but quickly captured national attention after a video of the buffalo went viral. Large crowds, including online fans, music lovers, and children, traveled from distant areas to see and take photos with this unique albino buffalo.
Sia Uddin Mritha, 38, a former farm owner, said his younger brother named the buffalo "Trump" because they were struck by the unusual blonde-golden hair on its head. Mritha added that the buffalo has a gentle and affectionate temperament and requires close care, including frequent feeding and regular bathing.
Albino buffaloes are very rare in Bangladesh, where most livestock have dark coloring, making this one stand out in the festival animal market. However, analysts believe that its "nickname" was a key factor in saving its life.
Police officers from the Keraniganj police station in Dhaka, where the buffalo was kept, stated, "The Department of Livestock requested we take custody of this buffalo because it is rare and very young, with many years of care ahead."
Atiqur Rahman, an official at Bangladesh's National Zoo, confirmed that the albino buffalo will receive excellent care. "We have prepared a special enclosure for this buffalo and assigned a dedicated caretaker. Initially, it will undergo a two-week quarantine for disease screening as per protocol."
. Source AFP /Reuters