An albino buffalo nicknamed “Donald Trump” has been returned to its farm after Bangladeshi officials intervened to prevent its planned ritual sacrifice for Eidul Azha, local media reported Wednesday.
The buffalo, raised near the capital Dhaka, gained viral attention due to its blond hair and resemblance to US President Donald Trump’s distinctive hairstyle. Daily crowds gathered at the farm to take pictures of the nearly 700-kilogramme animal, which went viral across social media and international news outlets.
The animal had already been sold for sacrifice during Eidul Azha. However, local broadcaster Channel 24 reported that the Home Ministry asked authorities to halt the slaughter after the buffalo’s popularity surged nationwide.
Farm owner Ziauddin Mridha said the animal was named “Donald Trump” by his younger brother due to its pale tuft of hair on its forehead. He described the buffalo as calm and noted that albino buffaloes are rare in Bangladesh, where most animals are dark-skinned. The buffalo had become one of the country’s most talked-about attractions, with visitors traveling from far and wide to see it before the holiday. Viral sacrificial animals with celebrity-inspired names have increasingly become part of Bangladesh’s Eid cattle market culture in recent years.