Jaipur's Pink Elephant Dies After Viral Photoshoot, Sparks Concern For Animal Safety

A pink elephant sounds straight out of a fairytale, but the process of painting one for the cost of its life is not okay. Recently, a viral photoshoot by a Russian artist has been going viral, which centres around an elephant painted with a bright pink colour. The images and videos from this shoot were originally shared back in December 2025 by a travel art photographer named Julia Buruleva. These photos have only recently started gaining attention online, sparking a wave of mixed reactions. It is also being reported that the elephant used in this photoshoot has recently passed away as well. Let’s dive in to find out the story behind the viral Jaipur pink elephant shoot here.

Jaipur's Pink Elephant Shoot 

Russian photographer Julia Buruleva is the one behind the viral photoshoot that has become the topic of discussion on social media. Buruleva had travelled to Jaipur for an art expedition in 2025. She shared the behind-the-scenes details of this now viral shoot in a post on Instagram. The Russian photographer further explained where she got the idea and concept for this shoot. This idea emerged after she spent weeks absorbing the city’s vibrant colours and imagery. Buruleva envisioned “a pink elephant against classic Rajasthani gates,” calling elephants a key symbol of Rajasthan that she just had to include as an integral part of her photoshoot. 

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About Jaipur's Pink Elephant

Buruleva also shared on social media about how finding elephant farms in Jaipur to collaborate with was a big task. She finally did find the farm, which was willing to collaborate with her. The elephant seen in the video was a female named Chanchal, who belonged to the Hathi Gaon (Elephant Village) area. Chanchal has recently passed away, and Ballu Khan, president of the Hathi Gaon committee, revealed that the elephant was around 70 years old when she passed away. 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Julia Buruleva (@julia.buruleva)

Animal Safety Concerns: Art At The Cost Of A Life?

When news broke out of this viral photoshoot and the elephant’s passing, netizens were quick to drown Buruleva in controversy. While many think the bright pink colour is a cause of Chanchal’s death, there is no evidence to suggest that the elephant's death is linked to the photoshoot or the controversy surrounding it. For those who have been wondering whether the colour might be the cause of Chnachal’s death, Buruleva had already clarified the same. She addressed the animal welfare concerns by saying, “For anyone worried about the elephant - we used organic, locally-made paint, the same kind locals use for festivals, so it was absolutely safe for the animal.”

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Julia Buruleva (@julia.buruleva)

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As revealed by  Ballu Khan and other officials, Chanchal was around 70 years old, which is an advanced age for an elephant. They believe that her death was caused by natural causes.

Image Credit: Instagram, X

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