Interior Minister Salahuddin Ahmed stepped in after a blond-tufted albino buffalo supposedly resembling the US president became an online sensation
An albino buffalo in Bangladesh nicknamed “Donald Trump” because of its blond tuft and resemblance to the US president has been spared from sacrifice during the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha after a last-minute government intervention.
The nearly 700-kg animal had already been sold for ritual slaughter and was being prepared for the Muslim festival when authorities stepped in after viral videos and selfie-seeking crowds turned it into an unlikely celebrity.
The rescue was reported on Wednesday by multiple outlets. Bangladeshi Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed ordered officials to stop the sacrifice, refund the buyer, and relocate the animal.
The pale-skinned buffalo from Narayanganj near Dhaka became a social media sensation after videos highlighted its cream-colored forelock, which many Bangladeshis said looked like Trump’s trademark hairstyle.
“My younger brother named the buffalo Donald Trump because the hair on the front of its head resembles Donald Trump,” owner Ziauddin Mridha said. “Despite its striking appearance it is very calm by nature.”
Crowds traveled daily to the farm to pose for photos as clips of the animal spread widely online.
Residents gathered in the Jijira area on Wednesday hoping to catch a glimpse of the buffalo before Eid festivities, only to find authorities had already removed it. Footage published by local media showed the animal being led away with ropes and loaded onto a pickup truck as early visitors looked on. Some reports said the buffalo was taken to the national zoo in Dhaka while others said it might be returned temporarily to the farm where it was raised.
“We have been told that the price of the buffalo will be paid or an animal of the same value will be given for sacrifice,” said Moniruzzaman, who according to local reports bought the buffalo for the Eid sacrifice. Several disappointed visitors told reporters they had traveled with their children after seeing the buffalo online but arrived too late to see the now-famous animal.
Albino buffaloes are extremely rare in Bangladesh because of a genetic condition that reduces pigmentation leaving them with pale skin and light hair.
