Overview
- Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed ordered the rescue on Thursday after videos of the rare albino buffalo from a Narayanganj farm went viral and attracted large numbers of visitors.
- The animal had already been sold for an Eid al‑Adha sacrifice before officials refunded the purchaser and took the roughly 700‑kg buffalo into state custody.
- Mirpur National Zoo officials say they have assigned a shed and caregiver and plan to quarantine the buffalo for about two weeks while it receives special care.
- The owner described the four‑year‑old albino as unusually gentle and in need of frequent feeding and baths, which supporters and officials cited as reasons to protect its welfare.
- Some outlets reported an unconfirmed request from the U.S. Embassy influenced the decision, and the case highlights how social media can turn routine Eid livestock sales into public‑safety, animal‑welfare and diplomatic concerns.