Photographer in pink elephant shoot starts support petition for herself, says animal died of old age

Julia Buruleva, the art accused of painting an elephant pink for a photo shoot, has started a support petition — not for the animal, but for herself.A 65-year-old elephant was painted pink for a photo shoot in Jaipur.Buruleva is the Russian art who came under fire after Chanchal, a 65-year-old elephant, was painted pink for her photo shoot in November 2025. The elephant died a few weeks later in February, news agency PTI confirmed.As visuals of the pink elephant began to circulate online, Buruleva and others involved in the shoot became targets of severe backlash for animal cruelty. The backlash was compounded news of the animal’s death, even though the elephant’s owner Sadiq Khan claimed there was no link between its death and the pink gulaal used for the photo shoot.Russian photographer defends actionsJulia Buruleva’s recent Instagram posts have all been flooded with critical comments over the last few days, with many accusing the Russian photographer of causing the elderly elephant’s death.Buruleva hit back at these accusations in an Instagram post shared late last night, where she claimed that the elephant died of old age. She also slammed “the media” for amplifying false claims about the cause of the elephant’s death, and said that she had been receiving death threats.“SHAME ON THE MEDIA spreading false claims for hype – saying that my photoshoot with a pink elephant caused an elephant’s death,” Buruleva wrote.“There is evidence confirming that the elephant died of old age many months after the shoot – yet speculation is presented as fact.“And to those who send hate, threats, and even death wishes — – to me, my friends, models, and followers — this says everything about your values,” she wrote.(Also read: Jaipur ‘pink’ elephant owner says organic gulal used briefly, denies link between photoshoot and death)The photographer ended her post with an appeal to share her post along with the hashtag supportArtJuliaBuruleva to show support“If you’d like to SUPPORT me, share this post and use #supportArtJuliaBuruleva,” she requested.Internet hits backSocial media users refused to buy this defense, saying an elderly elephant should not have been stressed out with paint in the first place.“Sorry but no, you don’t deserve support, it was an elderly elephant that couldn’t say if it was in pain or uncomfortable or stressed. Do it to yourself or anyone that wants to do it, animals aren’t trophies or toys,” wrote one Instagram user.“You abused an elderly elephant just for a photo shoot , that elephant is now gone AND YOU ARE TRYING TO JUSTIFY YOURSELF !?!? Unbelievable,” another said.“No one supports you, you can go climb Mount Everest and shout that you’re not responsible for that poor creature’s death, but the truth is that you used that elephant in a way no animal should be used!” read one of the 500 comments under her post.Many of the comments that called her out were written in Russian. “You destroyed a living creature solely for the sake of content and likes. And you think you are completely blameless? Why do you believe you have the right to torment animals? Today it’s an elephant—who will it be tomorrow? You, and you alone, are to blame for what happened,” read one such comment, translated using Google Translate.