A photographer who took controversial photographs of elephants in India has become a central figure in the animal rights movement.
Russian snapper athlete Julia Burleva has come under fire for pouring bright pink paint on a model and a 65-year-old animal who has since passed away to realize her vision.
She addressed the ongoing backlash surrounding the photoshoot in Jaipur, India, claiming people were “sharing misinformation” about what happened.
Earlier this month, Burleba excitedly shared details of a recent project he undertook during a six-week trip to the capital of the northwestern state of Rajasthan.
Explaining how he came up with the idea, the Barcelona-based concept photographer said, “It might have been worth coming to India just for this shoot.
“After the first week, when my brain was filled with all the colors and images of the city, this idea emerged: to place a pink elephant against the backdrop of a classic Rajasthani gate.”
The elephant named Chanchal died a few months after the photo shoot took place, the animal’s owner said. (Instagram/@julia.buruleva)
“There are elephants everywhere: in the streets, in decorations, in buildings,” Burleba said. “It is practically the main symbol of Rajasthan. You could not pass by without seeing it.
“They are often displayed during festivals and celebrations, and locals paint them in different colors. I decided on one elephant in bright pink color, which is the most popular in Rajasthan.”
She described it as very “tough” to organize, saying she had to visit several elephant farms before finding someone willing to help.
“I went to the farm with the most reasonable manager four times to show that I was serious,” the 47-year-old added, telling her followers that finding a location to do the shoot was also a “nightmare”.
The shoot ultimately took place in an abandoned Hindu temple after finding a model “who was willing to be half-naked and painted pink.”
In the caption of an Instagram post in which she shared footage of the preparation process and documented how the elephant’s skin color changed, Burleba added: “For those who are concerned about the elephants, we used locally made organic paint. The paint was the same kind that locals use for festivals, so it was absolutely safe for the elephants.”
Photographer Julia Buruleva claimed the elephants she photographed were “safe” and “calm” (Instagram/@julia.buruleva)
The photographer has since claimed that “no elephants were harmed at any point” during the shoot, which he claims took place in November last year.
She told The Independent about the paint used on the elephant: “It was applied very quickly and was easy to wash.
“The entire session was short and conducted under the supervision of the elephant trainer, who is responsible for the elephant’s daily care and health.”
After a vibrant photo she recently took in Jaipur went viral, many social media users accused the photographer of putting an elephant through this experience.
Burleva claimed that the animal was “calm, relaxed and responsive” during the photo shoot.
“In Jaipur, elephants are visibly present in the cultural landscape, in rituals, decorations and daily life,” she continued. “And I saw the paintings being painted every day because it’s also part of the local tradition.”
A bright pink powder was reportedly used to color the animal’s skin (Instagram/@julia.buruleva)
“We understand that this topic is sensitive for many people,” she continued. “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 tusked elephant, named Chanchal, died in February, said the elephant’s owner, Shadiq Khan. he also said new indian express It is said that “Kaccha Gulal” was used to color the skin of elephants.
He claimed the shoot took 10 minutes and said the bright pink paint washed off shortly afterwards. The color powder is temporary and does not leave a stain.
Indian forest officials in the state of Rajasthan have since reportedly launched an investigation into the photo shoot to ascertain whether proper permissions were obtained and whether animal welfare regulations were followed.
Following this update, Bourleva shared a short statement on her Instagram Story on Tuesday (March 31).
“There is a lot of misinformation being spread about this project with Pink Elephant,” she said.
“We don’t know who started it, but what we’ve heard is that the elephant recently passed away from old age. This is sad, but the photoshoot took place over four months ago and had nothing to do with the elephant.
“Please check the source before sharing false information.”
Burleba also shared a statement uploaded online by Indian photographer Saurav Kumar in support of the shoot, saying, “She did not bring in a wild elephant, nor did she force her to do anything for the content. Everything was done properly with the involvement and consent of the owner. Who are you to sit here and lecture without context when the owner, who is responsible for the animal, is okay with it?”
“It has already been revealed that organic, non-toxic colors were used, the same kind traditionally used here. Yet people want to act like experts and spread half-baked knowledge without doing any basic research.”
LADbible has reached out to Burleba for comment.
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