Russian photographer under fire for painting elephant pink

ALBAWABA - A Russian photographer is under heavy backlash for painting an elephant pink during her latest trip to India.

Russian photographer Julia Buruleva posted on her Instagram a video showing her wearing a pink outfit and riding a pink elephant from her trip to India.

Animal rights groups decried photographer Julia Buruleva and accused her of animal abuse after dying an elephant pink for her latest photo shoot project in Jaipur, India. Buruleva closed the comment section on the post.

As Julia explained on her Instagram account, the idea for the session came during an art trip to Jaipur, where she was captivated by the city's vibrant colors and traditional architecture. This inspired her to envision a scene featuring "a pink elephant in front of classic Rajasthani gates," considering elephants a prominent cultural symbol in the region.

She added that she undertook extensive preparations, including visiting elephant farms to find suitable partners, in addition to facing difficulties in selecting a location and obtaining the necessary permits due to restrictions related to heritage sites.

She also noted that choosing a human model was a challenge, as several models declined to participate for social and family reasons before one finally agreed to take on the role.

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

How did the Russian photographer respond to critics?

Regarding animal welfare concerns, Julia Boroleva confirmed that the paint used was organic and homemade, typically used in traditional festivals, and stressed that it was safe for animals.

She wrote, "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."