‘Trump Buffalo’ avoids sacrifice, moved to Bangladesh Zoo

• Rare 'Trump Buffalo' spared from Eid sacrifice
• Bangladesh authorities intervene to save animal
• Buffalo deemed rare and too young for slaughter
• Animal moved to Bangladesh National Zoo

The rare albino buffalo that achieved online stardom for its uncanny resemblance to the US President Donald Trump has been granted a last-minute reprieve from ritual slaughter.

The animal will now live out its days under state care at the national zoo.

The 700-kilogram (1,500-pound) bull became an overnight social media sensation due to a flowing helmet of light hair that mimicked Donald Trump's signature hairstyle.

It was originally destined to be sacrificed on Thursday to mark Eid al-Adha, the "feast of the sacrifice," an important religious holiday celebrated across the Muslim-majority nation of 170 million people.

Last-minute rescue

The buffalo's former owner, 38-year-old Zia Uddin Mridha, explained that his brother originally named the animal "Trump" solely because of its "extraordinary hair."

Before its scheduled slaughter, the bull attracted a constant stream of curious visitors, including social media fans, onlookers, and children, all flocking to snap photographs with the unlikely digital celebrity.

Though Mridha ultimately sold the bull ahead of the holiday, the government stepped in just hours before the animal faced the knife.

Following an official state order to spare the viral star, local law enforcement intervened to intercept the animal.

"The livestock department requested us to take the buffalo from the owner as it is a rare animal. They said that the albino buffalo is still very young, and can be raised for a few years." - Mohammad Ruhul Quddus, Officer-in-Charge of Dhaka's Keraniganj Police Station stated.

New life at Zoo

Following its rescue, the buffalo was transported directly to the state's central wildlife facility.

Zoo administrators have confirmed that the animal will be highly protected and given specialized attention.

Atiqur Rahman, the curator of the National Zoo, announced on Wednesday that the facility had already finalized preparations for its newest and most famous resident.

"We have designated a shed for the albino buffalo and assigned a caregiver," Rahman stated. "He will be quarantined for two weeks."

Once the standard isolation period concludes, the celebrity buffalo is expected to be put on public display, transitioning permanently from a holiday market commodity to a protected national attraction.