Bangladesh government intervenes to save Trump's buffalo from slaughter

A rare buffalo with drooping blonde hair, dubbed "Donald Trump" because of its hair strand, escaped slaughter on the occasion of Eid al-Adha after a last-minute government intervention, an official at Bangladesh's home ministry said.

The buffalo, which weighs about 700 kilograms, has already been sold for slaughter on Eid al-Adha, but authorities intervened citing security concerns after a wave of public interest in the story that spread ahead of Eid.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed ordered him not to be slaughtered, refunded the buyer and transferred him to the Dhaka National Zoo.

"At the last minute, a decision was made to ban the slaughter of buffaloes due to security concerns and an unusual level of public attention," a ministry official said.

The buffalo "Trump" is trending on social media

What started as a routine shopping for Eid al-Adha quickly turned into a phenomenon that piqued curiosity across the country after videos went viral online, and crowds gathered at the farm, with visitors coming from far and wide to see his blonde hair and calm demeanor.

The farm owner said it was his younger brother who suggested the name when he noticed the similarity, adding that the buffalo needed special care, including bathing several times a day and feeding it regularly.

The buffalo is rare in Bangladesh, where the dark colour is predominant, adding distinctiveness to its shape during the peak livestock trading season, but it was probably the funny name that saved its life.