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Bangladesh Spares Viral 'Donald Trump' Buffalo From Eid Sacrifice

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed ordered the buyer refunded and the animal transferred to the national zoo for quarantine and care after authorities raised security and public‑interest concerns.

Overview

  • The rare albino buffalo, nicknamed 'Donald Trump' for a pale tuft of hair that went viral, drew large crowds at a Narayanganj farm and was sold for Eid al-Adha before officials intervened.
  • Officials stepped in after public attention surged, and a Home Ministry order on Wednesday required the buyer be refunded and directed police and the livestock department to take the animal into custody.
  • Police and livestock officials moved the nearly 700‑kg animal to Dhaka’s Bangladesh National Zoo, where the curator said it will be quarantined for two weeks and given a dedicated shed and caregiver.
  • The government cited security and unusually high public interest as the reasons for preserving the buffalo, while the farm owner and buyer were told they would receive compensation or a replacement animal for the sacrifice.
  • The episode highlights how social media can reshape market transactions during Eid al‑Adha, raises animal‑welfare questions for rare albino livestock that need special care, and sets a precedent for state intervention when crowd control or safety is at risk.