Viral videos: Runaway sacrificial animals cause chaos, traffic jams during Eid Al Adha

Dubai: It’s a scene now familiar across Arab and Islamic cities during Eid Al Adha: a panicked calf charges through traffic, a goat leaps over market stalls, and a runaway sheep barrels down narrow alleys as children and butchers give chase.

What begins as a sacred tradition often spirals into chaos, creating moments of comedy, confusion, and, at times, real danger.

Across Cairo and beyond, social media platforms were flooded during Eid with viral footage capturing this increasingly familiar and frenzied holiday phenomenon: the escape of sacrificial animals.

In one widely shared video from Egypt, a frightened ram darted through congested traffic, weaving between cars and motorcycles as startled pedestrians jumped out of its path. In other clips, panicked animals stormed into storefronts, knocking over goods and injuring bystanders, while owners struggled to regain control.

While many viewers laughed and reshared the clips with humorous captions, others expressed concern over the normalization of animal distress and the risks to public safety.

“Behind the funny videos are real people—some of whom saved for months to afford the sacrifice,” said Dr. Walid Hindi, a psychological health consultant based in Cairo. “And behind the fleeing animal is often a child frightened, a parent panicked, or a motorist in danger.”

Fear, not disobedience

Experts point to sensory overload during Eid—blood, noise, and crowded streets—as a major trigger for animals. This stress is often compounded when animals are handled by untrained individuals.

“When sheep smell blood, they instinctively flee. It’s fear, not disobedience,” said one veterinary expert.

Injuries and urban disruption

In Turkey, the spectacle took a more serious turn this year. More than 14,000 people were reportedly injured while attempting to slaughter sacrificial animals without professional help. The country’s health minister confirmed that most incidents were preventable and urged citizens to rely on trained butchers for the ritual.

Elsewhere across the Arab world, runaway animals caused minor urban disturbances, including traffic delays and property damage.

Call for respect

Religious scholars have also weighed in. Dr. Hisham Rabi’, a scholar at Egypt’s Dar Al Ifta, warned against mocking sacrificial rituals, emphasizing that such behavior goes against Islamic values of compassion and respect.

“The act of sacrifice is a profound form of worship,” he said. “It deserves solemnity—not spectacle or amusement.”