A rare albino buffalo with a distinctive blond tuft of hair has been spared from ritual sacrifice during Eid al-Adha celebrations after going viral on social media for resembling U.S. President Donald Trump.
Bangladesh authorities intervened on May 28, 2026, transferring the nearly 700-kilogram animal to the national zoo in Dhaka after public interest created security concerns and widespread attention, per The Guardian.
The buffalo, owned by Zia Uddin Mridha in Narayanganj, near Dhaka, drew crowds and online buzz for its pale coat and light-colored forelock. Mridha’s brother gave it the nickname because of the similarity in hair.
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed ordered that the animal be spared, the buyer be refunded, and the buffalo be relocated to the Mirpur National Zoo for public display and conservation, Reuters reported.
“Viral fame spares ‘Donald Trump’ buffalo from Eid sacrifice in Bangladesh,” Reuters reported, noting the last-minute government action on Wednesday.
The buffalo had been sold for traditional sacrifice as part of the Eid al-Adha festivities, which often include livestock, CBS News noted. Its growing popularity prompted the intervention.
Visitors gathered at the zoo on May 28 to see the unusual animal, whose appearance has made it a local curiosity, per EuroNews.
Eid al-Adha, observed by Muslims worldwide this week, commemorates Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son and typically involves animal sacrifices in many communities.
