The ‘Donald Trump’ of the buffalo world has been a hit with the public, not to mention a magnet for selfies. With his pale hide and a bit of light hair on top, he has a way of reminding people of the former US president. He was a draw for some good-natured laughter and firm offers, but he has already been put up for sale in the run-up to Eid al-Adha.
You’ll find them near Dhaka, where they’ve made something of a show out of what is usually a pre-Eid routine. Locals will tell you one is a Trump and the other is an Israeli prime minister. It’s been enough to pack the farms and get the internet abuzz.
Why a buffalo named ‘Donald Trump’ caught on
It’s the looks of him. At 700 kilograms, with his colouring and composure, the parallels to Trump are hard to miss. Some have even quipped that the animal is far too well-mannered for the name.
Ziauddin Mridha, who runs a farm in Narayanganj, says it was his younger brother who came up with the moniker after seeing the hair. “They’re a peaceful sort unless you ruffle their feathers,” Mridha says. A post or two online did the rest, touting the 700kg weight and the fact he’s been fed well.
Sold before Eid at a set rate
He was put in at a cattle market ten months back and has now been sold. The price was Tk550 per kg (Rs 430) as people prepare for the sacrifices of Eid. Some say a diet of corn and soybean has put him in such fine shape.
The ‘Netanyahu’ buffalo draws a different reaction
But there is another one at the same farm, an albino they compare to Benjamin Netanyahu. He is nothing like the other. Over 750 kilos of him, and he has a habit of snorting and making a move on the handlers.
One of the men on the ground calls him ‘naughty’ and says he has a devious kind of smarts to him. You can see the difference in the way people act: they’ll hang around for a picture with the quiet one, but they give the more volatile bull some room.
Festival timing turbocharges the frenzy
As we get closer to the festival, the story has taken on a life of its own. People are lining up for a photo op and the comments section is full of debate on whether the resemblance is any good. What was a joke in the family is now a national pastime.
When you add a story to an animal, it makes for a better buy, and farmers know this. It brings in the crowds, which is good for business if you can handle the logistics.
Here are the key developments to know right now:
– Two albino buffaloes are drawing crowds near Dhaka
– ‘Donald Trump’ weighs nearly 700 kilograms and stays calm
– It sold for Tk550 per kg (Rs 430 per kg)
– ‘Netanyahu’ tops over 750 kilograms and acts aggressively
What comes next
‘Donald Trump’ is off to his new home, but the talk isn’t going to stop. There are still people coming by and the local press is happy to oblige with the latest from the farm.
In a way, it is a case study in how things work in Bangladesh these days: a bit of a look, a funny name and a video and you have a headline. Two regular farm animals have become must-see before the Eid season is done.
