Chanchal, a 67-year-old elephant, died in Rajasthan’s Jaipur, after a pink powder photoshoot went viral. The incident sparked debate on animal welfare and led to an investigation.
The death of a 67-year-old elephant in Rajasthan has reignited concerns over the use of animals for commercial photoshoots after images of her being covered in pink powder for a fashion shoot went viral online.
The elephant, Chanchal, was being used for tourist rides in Jaipur when she was covered in pink gulal and made to carry a model during a photoshoot near an abandoned temple in November 2025.
The images remained largely unnoticed until February 2026, when photographer Julia Buruleva shared them on social media, triggering widespread criticism from animal rights activists and users.
Several months later, Chanchal died. According to officials cited by an Instagram page under the name Bored Panda, the elephant suffered cardiac arrest linked to old age, and authorities said there was no evidence that the coloured powder directly caused her death.
However, the incident has continued to fuel debate over the treatment of elderly working elephants. Critics argued that despite her age, Chanchal was still being used for commercial activities and was made to participate in a photoshoot while carrying a model, raising serious questions about her welfare.
The controversy also shifted towards photographer Julia Buruleva after she reportedly began receiving abusive and threatening messages online following the backlash.
Meanwhile, Rajasthan authorities have launched an investigation into the photoshoot to determine whether the required permissions had been obtained and whether Chanchal’s welfare was adequately considered before the event took place.
