Buffalo 'Donald Trump' escaped slaughter after becoming a social media star. Where will he be taken?
The Bangladeshi albino buffalo, which became famous on social media due to its unusual appearance and resemblance to US President Donald Trump's hairstyle, was saved from slaughter just before the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha.
The albino buffalo was spared and moved to a zoo. PHOTO: Profimedia
The animal, which weighs about 700 kilograms, was given the name “Donald Trump” because of the tuft of blond hair between its horns.
“He is a very gentle buffalo. He eats like the others, does not fight for food and shares the same stall,” added the owner.
The buffalo was due to be slaughtered as part of the traditional Feast of the Sacrifice, celebrated on Thursday, May 28, in Bangladesh, but authorities intervened at the last minute after the animal became a true online phenomenon.
The buffalo has been transferred to the Bangladesh National Zoo where it will be cared for and monitored.
“We have reserved a shelter for the albino buffalo and assigned a guard to it. It will be quarantined for two weeks,” said Atique Rahman, species conservation specialist at the zoo, according to AFP and Agerpres.
In recent weeks, hundreds of people have gone to the farm in Narayanganj, on the outskirts of the capital Dhaka, to see and take pictures of the animal.
The buffalo's former owner, farmer Zia Uddin Mridha, said the name was given to him by his younger brother, who thought the animal resembled Donald Trump due to “his extraordinary haircuts.”
Although the farmer had initially decided to sell the animal before Eid al-Adha, the authorities intervened after animal husbandry services highlighted the rarity of the specimen.
“We have been asked to retrieve the buffalo from its owner as it is a rare animal,” said Keraniganj Police Chief Mohammad Ruhul Quddus.
Experts said the buffalo is still young and could live for many years to come.
In Bangladesh, Eid al-Adha is one of the most important religious holidays, and millions of animals are slaughtered annually. For many poor families, this is one of the few occasions of the year when they eat meat.
