Buffalo named Trump spared from sacrifice, sent to Bangladesh zoo

Just hours before Eid al-Adha, a buffalo in Bangladesh known as “Donald Trump” for its sweeping blond hair was pulled back from sacrifice and granted an unlikely new future at the national zoo.

In Muslim-majority Bangladesh, the South Asian country of 170 million people, Eid al-Adha — the “feast of the sacrifice” — will be observed tomorrow.

The 700kg bull, a rare albino buffalo crowned with a pale, flowing mane that recalls the trademark hairstyle of the US president, had been set to be slaughtered for the occasion.

Instead, with the animal drawing widespread attention online, the government moved in at the last moment to save it.

“We have designated a shed for the albino buffalo and assigned a caregiver,” Rahman said. “He will be quarantined for two weeks.”

The 700kg buffalo drew the nickname ‘Donald Trump’ from the streak of light-colored hair falling across its forehead

People across Bangladesh had crowded in to photograph the unexpected social media attraction.

Zia Uddin Mridha, 38, the buffalo’s previous owner, said his brother had given it the name “Trump” because of its “extraordinary hair”.

According to Mr Mridha, a steady flow of visitors — social media followers, curious locals and children — arrived hoping to catch a glimpse of the animal.

Even so, he sold the bull before Eid al-Adha.

Police later stepped in after the government ordered that the buffalo should be spared.

“The livestock department requested us to take the buffalo from the owner as it is a rare animal,” Mohammad Ruhul Quddus, officer-in-charge of Dhaka’s Keraniganj Police Station, where the buffalo was taken, said.

“They said that the albino buffalo is still very young and can be raised for a few years,” he added.

More than 12 million animals — including goats, sheep, cows and buffaloes — are expected to be sacrificed during the holiday, when meat is a rare luxury for many poorer families.

Read moreBangladesh’s ‘Donald Trump’ buffalo becomes Eid sensation