SRINAGAR: A rare albino buffalo in Bangladesh that went viral online for its striking resemblance to US President Donald Trump has been rescued from Eid al-Adha sacrifice and relocated to the national zoo in Dhaka.
The nearly 700-kilogram buffalo became an internet sensation in the days leading up to Eid after photos and videos highlighted its distinctive white forehead patch and flowing blond hair resembling Trump’s trademark hairstyle. Social media users quickly dubbed it the “Donald Trump buffalo”, with clips attracting millions of views across platforms.
The animal, owned by 38-year-old farmer Zia Uddin Mridha in Narayanganj district near Dhaka, had initially been sold for sacrifice during Eid al-Adha, one of the most significant Islamic festivals marked by the ritual slaughter of livestock.
However, amid growing public attention and mounting crowds visiting the farm, Bangladeshi authorities intervened at the last moment to spare the buffalo. The government later transferred the animal to the Bangladesh National Zoo, where it will remain on public display.
“At the last moment, the decision was taken to spare the buffalo from sacrifice due to security concerns and the unusual level of public interest,” a ministry official said, according to multiple media reports.
Zoo curator Atiqur Rahman said the buffalo has been placed in a separate enclosure and assigned a caretaker. “We have designated a shed for the albino buffalo and assigned a caregiver. He will be quarantined for two weeks,” Rahman said.
The buffalo’s former owner said the nickname originated as a joke within the family. “My younger brother jokingly named it Donald Trump after seeing the hair on its head,” Mridha told local media.
He described the animal as calm and gentle. “Albino buffaloes are generally peaceful and do not become aggressive unless provoked,” he said.
Visitors who flocked to the farm embraced the comparison. “When I saw his pictures on Facebook, he looked exactly like Donald Trump,” one woman told Bangladeshi newspaper, Prothom Alo. “His facial structure and even hairstyle match that of Trump.”
She, however, pointed out one major difference, saying the buffalo was “very calm and polite” in nature.
According to the owner, albino buffalo are considered rare in South Asia. The animal was reportedly raised on a nutritious diet of corn, soybean and bran, contributing to its large size and healthy appearance.
Another buffalo at the same farm has also drawn attention online. Weighing more than 750 kilograms, it has been nicknamed “Benjamin Netanyahu” by farm workers because of its energetic and aggressive behaviour.
Bangladesh, a Muslim-majority country of around 170 million people, witnesses the sacrifice of millions of livestock during Eid al-Adha every year. This year, however, the “Donald Trump buffalo” escaped the knife to become one of the national zoo’s newest attractions.
