Elephants painted bright pink for photo shoot cause riots in India

Forest officials in India have launched an investigation following social media outrage over a Russian photographer’s photo shoot in which a 65-year-old elephant was painted bright pink.

Animal rights activists have accused Barcelona-based conceptual photographer Giulia Bourleba of animal cruelty after she painted her fangs pink for a photoshoot in the city of Jaipur in western Rajasthan state.

The image shows a woman in pink sitting on a painted elephant in an abandoned Hindu temple. The photos were first posted on her Instagram page in December last year, but sparked outrage this month after they went viral on social media.

Burleba said: independent person She said the filming took place during her six-week art expedition in November 2025, and that the project aimed to reflect existing realities rather than justify, promote, or condemn practices.

Burleva said that “no elephants were harmed at any point” during filming, adding that the paint was non-toxic and natural. “It was applied for a very short time and was easily washed off. The entire session was short and was done under the supervision of the elephant trainer who is responsible for the elephant’s daily care and health,” she said.

The photographer said the elephant showed no signs of distress and appeared “calm, relaxed and responsive.”

One of the most liked comments on her Instagram post was: “This is not art. This is pure animal abuse and glorifying it is not OK.” “Creative freedom is not a free pass to irresponsible expression,” another user wrote.

“Would they let this happen in their country?” read the comments.

“In Jaipur, elephants are visibly present in the cultural landscape, in rituals, decorations and daily life. And I saw elephants depicted every day, because it is also part of the local tradition,” Burleba said in response to the backlash.

“We understand that this topic is sensitive for many people. At the same time, we believe it is important to distinguish between situations where animals are truly being harmed and situations where assumptions may not fully reflect the real situation.”

The elephant’s owner, Shadiq Khan, said the tusked elephant, named Chanchal, was 65 years old at the time of the photo and was no longer being used as a vehicle. Khan added that Chanchal passed away in February.

Burleba said when she was informed of the elephant’s death, her owner told her that Chanchal had died of old age.

he said. new indian express ‘Kaccha Gular’ was used to depict an elephant in a 10-minute shoot, but was washed out shortly after. This refers to a Hindi term that refers to powdered colors made from natural materials that leave no residue and are easily washed off.

Forest department officials said they have taken cognizance of the incident and have started an investigation. The report said authorities will investigate whether permits were obtained and whether animal welfare standards were complied with.

Animal rights groups are calling on the government to impose stricter regulations. “This incident highlights the rampant abuse of captive elephants in Jaipur to cater to the whims and fancies of tourists,” said Gajender Kumar Sharma, country director of World Animal Protection India.

“We call on the Indian authorities to strictly control all access between all tourists, including foreign tourists, and captive elephants in Jaipur and across India.”