“Donald Trump” Buffalo spared from sacrifice

May 28 2026

A rare albino buffalo in Bangladesh, nicknamed “Donald Trump” because of its distinctive blond fringe, has been spared from ritual sacrifice during the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha after the animal became an online sensation.

The nearly 700-kilogram buffalo drew widespread attention across social media in recent days, with crowds reportedly visiting a farm in Narayanganj near Dhaka to photograph the unusual animal, whose flowing blond hair was said to resemble the hairstyle of former U.S. President Donald Trump.

According to Reuters and multiple international media outlets, Bangladesh’s Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed ordered a last-minute intervention after concerns grew over the intense public interest surrounding the buffalo. Officials confirmed the buyer would be refunded and the animal transferred to the national zoo in Dhaka instead of being slaughtered for Eid al-Adha.

The buffalo’s owner, Ziauddin Mridha, said the nickname was given by his younger brother because of the animal’s unusual blond tuft. He described the buffalo as calm and gentle, adding that albino buffaloes are extremely rare in Bangladesh and require special care, including frequent bathing due to their sensitivity to sunlight.

Officials at the national zoo confirmed the animal would be quarantined and placed under special supervision after arriving at the facility.

Eid al-Adha, one of Islam’s holiest festivals, commemorates the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son in obedience to God.

The holiday traditionally includes the ritual sacrifice of livestock animals such as goats, sheep, cows and buffaloes, with meat distributed among family, friends and the poor. Millions of animals are sacrificed annually across the Muslim world during the observance.

Bangladesh, a Muslim-majority nation of roughly 170 million people, is estimated to sacrifice more than 12 million livestock animals during the Eid season each year.