A nearly 700-kg albino buffalo in Bangladesh, nicknamed “Donald Trump,” was pulled from Eid al-Adha slaughter after the Home Ministry ordered it spared at the last minute, refunding the buyer and sending the animal to the national zoo in Dhaka.
On Wednesday, the Home Ministry in Bangladesh stepped in just before a rare albino buffalo was taken for Eid al-Adha sacrifice—stopping a purchase that had already gone far beyond ritual tradition.
The animal, weighing nearly 700 kg, carried a distinctive blond tuft and had been nicknamed “Donald Trump,” a label that helped turn it into a viral sensation. After authorities intervened, the buyer was refunded and the buffalo was moved to the national zoo in Dhaka.
The decision came after the buffalo had already been sold for ritual slaughter when authorities raised security concerns tied to an unusual surge of public interest ahead of Thursday’s festival. Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed ordered that the buffalo be spared, according to a Home Ministry official.
“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,” the ministry official said.
What began as a routine Eid purchase quickly drew crowds. Videos that spread online brought people to the farm. with visitors traveling from far away to see the buffalo’s blond fringe and its calm demeanor. For many. it wasn’t only the animal’s rarity that captured attention—it was the nickname. and the way it seemed to give the moment a story of its own.
The farm owner, Ziauddin Mridha, said the name came from his younger brother, who noticed the resemblance. Mridha also described the buffalo as unusually gentle, saying it requires careful upkeep, including frequent feeding and regular baths.
Albino buffaloes are rare in Bangladesh, where most cattle are dark, making the animal stand out during the peak Eid livestock season. But officials said it was the security risk sparked by the public attention—and the level of attention itself—that changed the outcome.
In the end, the buffalo that had been on track for slaughter was spared, not by a legal battle or a long appeal, but by a last-minute decision aimed at keeping the frenzy surrounding Eid from turning into a security problem.
Bangladesh Home Ministry Salahuddin Ahmed Eid al-Adha albino buffalo Donald Trump nickname national zoo security concerns
So they saved it because it was famous? That’s kinda wild.
I don’t get it… like Eid al-Adha is for sacrificing right? But they refund the guy and send it to a zoo because of “security concerns.” Security from who, the buffalo??
They’re telling me it was nicknamed “Donald Trump” and got viral so they backed out at the last second? Seems like the internet runs the world now. Also 700 kg is like… that’s not a normal cow, that’s a whole tank.
Good they spared it but I’m guessing it was really because someone high up saw the videos and got offended, not “security.” Like why would crowds matter more than the actual ritual? And if it was already sold, who even eats the food refunds go to? I’m confused, sounds like they just changed their mind when it became a headline.