{"id":15362,"date":"2026-04-16T15:55:17","date_gmt":"2026-04-16T15:55:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/grow48.us\/?p=15362"},"modified":"2026-04-16T15:55:21","modified_gmt":"2026-04-16T15:55:21","slug":"the-elephant-passed-away-months-later-%f0%9f%98%ad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/grow48.us\/?p=15362","title":{"rendered":"The elephant passed away months later \ud83d\ude2d"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Julia
Julia Buruleva painted the elephant pink for her photoshoot. Credit: Instagram \/ julia.buruleva<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

A photoshoot featuring an elephant painted entirely pink has triggered global outrage after the animal later died. The photographer has been accused of cruelty as she defends her controversial \u201cart\u201d and jokes online about \u201cHow I killed an elephant.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

In November 2025, Russian photographer Julia Buruleva staged a photoshoot at an abandoned Ganesha temple in Jaipur, India, featuring a model and an elephant both painted in a bold, solid shade of pink.<\/p>\n

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Sharing the images on\u00a0social media<\/a>, Buruleva explained that she had spent six weeks in the city, drawing inspiration from Jaipur\u2019s pink color palette and cultural symbolism for the project she called her \u201cArt Expedition.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2018Pink City\u2019<\/h2>\n

\u201cElephants are everywhere there \u2013 streets, ornaments, architecture. Practically the main symbol of Rajasthan. I just couldn\u2019t pass by without including one,\u201d the traveling art photographer wrote on Instagram, explaining the photos were intended to reflect the visual identity of Jaipur, often referred to as the \u201cPink City.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The images show a near-nude model covered in bright pink pigment posing on top of the\u00a0elephant<\/a>, who was painted in the same vivid hue from head to toe.<\/p>\n

According to the\u00a0Independent<\/a>, the elephant featured in the photoshoot was a 65-year-old female named Chanchal, who lived in Hathi Gaon, also known as Elephant Village. Her owner, Shadik Khan, told the outlet that Chanchal was used for rides but had retired at the time of the shoot.<\/p>\n

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Credit:\u00a0Instagram \/ julia.buruleva<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Buruleva\u2019s photos were originally published in December but resurfaced a few months later, quickly spreading across social media and triggering heated debate.<\/p>\n

Pink elephant<\/h2>\n

\u201cFor anyone worried about the elephant \u2013 we used organic, locally-made paint, the same kind locals use for festivals, so it was absolutely safe for the animal,\u201d Buruleva insisted in her post about painting Chanchal, who reportedly was \u201ccalm, relaxed and responsive\u201d during the shoot.<\/p>\n

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Confirming her claims, Ballu Khan, president of the Hathi Gaon committee, told the Independent the elephant was colored using gulal, a powder traditionally used during Holi celebrations, and that the substance was washed off shortly after being applied.<\/p>\n

In February 2026 \u2013 months after the November photoshoot \u2013 Chanchal, considered advanced aged for an elephant, died from what officials said was natural causes.<\/p>\n

\u2018Chanchal wasn\u2019t a canvas\u2019<\/h2>\n

Following Chanchal\u2019s death, the backlash was harsh and immediate, with critics accusing the photographer of prioritizing art over animal\u00a0welfare<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is not art, this is pure ANIMAL ABUSE and so not ok to glorify it,\u201d one netizen wrote in the comment section of Buruleva\u2019s Instagram post.<\/p>\n

Another shared: \u201cIt\u2019s really unfortunate how this can be perceived as anything close to art at the cost of a sentient being. Regardless of how\/why Chanchal passed away, that treatment by the apparent artist is abysmal at the very least\u2026Just going to go ahead and report the account for\u00a0animal abuse<\/a>\u00a0because that\u2019s what it is.\u201d<\/p>\n

A local added, \u201cHey Julia, I love that you loved our city to showcase your art. Next time please don\u2019t paint the elephant. Colours being organic or what not.\u201d<\/p>\n

Others also criticized the concept, writing: \u201cChanchal wasn\u2019t a canvas\u2026she was a life. Paint, fashion, and \u2018art\u2019 should never come at the cost of someone\u2019s suffering. This is not beauty, this is cruelty. Do better. Choose compassion.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2018Decorating elephants\u2019 common in area<\/h2>\n

Buruleva defended her work, arguing that much of the backlash has been fueled by misunderstandings about the process.<\/p>\n

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\u201cA lot of the reactions are based on assumptions rather than what actually happened,\u201d she told\u00a0LADbible<\/a>, adding that the photoshoot was designed to minimize stress for the animal.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe elephant showed no signs of stress during the process. I love animals, and I would never do something that could harm them.\u201d<\/p>\n

She said the intention behind the Jaipur shoot was to reflect the strong presence of elephants in local identity, rather than exploit the animal.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn fact, decorating elephants is something that exists within the local context,\u201d she said, suggesting that the artistic approach aligned with traditions already present in the region.<\/p>\n

\u2018How I killed an elephant\u2019<\/h2>\n

On March 30, Buruleva continued to defend her \u201cart,\u201d with bitter Facebook posts addressing why she \u201cwoke up famous in India.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow I killed an elephant,\u201d she started, explaining also that she\u2019s closed the comment section. \u201cSomehow, my photo with a pink elephant went viral \u2013 and provoked Indian zookeepers\u2019 heart.<\/p>\n