India Probes Elephant Death After Pink Photoshoot

The death of a 65-year-old elephant used in an artistic photoshoot in Jaipur has intensified public outrage across India, prompting calls for an investigation into potential animal welfare violations. Chanchal, the female elephant featured in the project by Russian photographer Julia Buruleva, passed away on February 26, apparently from natural causes related to her advanced age, according to her owner, Shadik Khan. The incident, which occurred nearly three months after the November shoot at an abandoned Ganesha temple in the western state of Rajasthan, has reignited criticism of the event where the animal was painted bright pink.

Buruleva, a Barcelona-based conceptual photographer known for blending cultural themes with staged visuals, traveled to Jaipur for an art expedition inspired by the city's vibrant hues and architecture. She described elephants as a central symbol in Rajasthan, often decorated with colors during festivals, and chose pink to reflect the region's iconic shade. In the photoshoot, a human model painted in matching pink posed atop Chanchal, creating images that Buruleva shared on Instagram in December. The photographer emphasized that the session lasted...