With Eid-ul-Azha approaching, a buffalo in Bangladesh has become one of the most talked-about subjects on social media. Seeing the pinkish-white body and the head full of golden hair of this rare albino buffalo on a Narayanganj farm, many found a likeness to US President Donald Trump, and so the buffalo came to be called "Donald Trump".

The story has now found its way into the international news media as well, not just in Bangladesh. From Indian outlets to international media and photo agencies, Bangladesh's "viral buffalo" is being talked about everywhere.

Hundreds of people crowd every day to see the albino buffalo, weighing about 700 kg, at Rabeya Agro Farm in Paikpara, Narayanganj. Some take photographs, some shoot videos and some out of curiosity even try to touch it.

Farm owner Ziauddin Mridha told the international news agency AFP that his younger brother had named the buffalo "Donald Trump" as a joke, because the golden hair on its head looks a lot like Trump's well-known hairstyle.

According to the report by the French news agency AFP, cold water is poured on the buffalo's head and its hair is combed with a pink brush. The patch of golden hair between its huge curved horns is what catches visitors' eyes most.

According to the farm and livestock officials, albino buffalo are extremely rare in South Asia. For genetic reasons their bodies lack melanin, so instead of the normal black colour they look pink or whitish.

Farm owners say albino buffalo are usually calm and do not easily turn aggressive. Ziauddin Mridha said this one is very calm by nature, and that albino buffalo are not usually aggressive unless provoked.

India's The Economic Times wrote in its report that Bangladesh's "Donald Trump buffalo" has become an internet sensation, noting that after going viral on social media people are coming from far and wide to see it.

The Times of India reported that not only "Donald Trump" but another buffalo named "Benjamin Netanyahu" in the same area has also gone viral, and the two are now a special attraction for visitors.

Pakistan's Dawn posted AFP's photographs on its social media platforms, with part of the AFP report in the caption.

AFP headlined its report "Commander-in-beef: Bangladesh's 'Donald Trump' buffalo wins fans". It said people in Bangladesh are flocking to take photos with the buffalo, and some have even taken an hour-long boat trip to see it.

The Singapore newspaper The Straits Times also published the AFP report, saying the buffalo had become a social media star in Bangladesh ahead of Eid-ul-Azha. The photo agencies Reuters Connect, Getty Images and NurPhoto also published pictures of the buffalo, with captions saying it had gone viral on social media because of its pink skin and golden hair.

This "Donald Trump" is not alone. On several other farms in Narayanganj, similar albino buffalo are being called by the names of world leaders.

A 750 kg buffalo has been named Benjamin Netanyahu. According to farm workers it is quite aggressive by nature, so it was jokingly named "Netanyahu". Meanwhile, many saw a likeness to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the white beard and face of another albino buffalo, which was then named after him.

Many in the farming business say that naming animals after famous people has become a kind of marketing tactic in the Eid market.

Rabeya Agro Farm says it has prepared about 200 animals for Eid-ul-Azha, most of them already booked. Farm owner Ziauddin Mridha said the "Donald Trump" buffalo has already been sold at Tk 550 per kg of live weight, but people are still coming to see it because it went viral on social media.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.