'Deeply upsetting, this is animal abuse': Netizens slam Russian photographer for painting Jaipur elephant in pink after video goes viral

A video showing an elephant being painted bright pink for a photoshoot in Jaipur, Rajasthan, has sparked widespread outrage online, with many calling the act “deeply upsetting” and a clear case of animal abuse.

The visuals were shared on Instagram by Russian photographer Julia Buruleva, who documented her six-week visit to Jaipur. In the now-viral clip, a group of people can be seen applying pink colour onto an elephant as part of her creative concept.

Explaining the idea behind the shoot, Buruleva wrote, “I spent six weeks in Jaipur — after the first week, when my brain was already overloaded with all the colours and images of the city, this idea appeared: a pink elephant against classic Rajasthani gates.”

Responding to concerns, she attempted to reassure viewers about the animal’s safety. “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,” she said. However, the clarification did little to calm public anger.

The original post has since been edited, with comments turned off, allowing only likes and shares. Yet, another post featuring behind-the-scenes moments from the shoot remains open to reactions, continuing to draw backlash.

Social media users were quick to condemn the act. “This is not art, this is pure animal abuse and should not be glorified,” one user wrote. Another commented, “Strange how the elephant has to suffer so photos can look beautiful. They could have used AI instead.”

Many across platforms described the act as “deeply upsetting,” reigniting conversations around animal welfare and responsible tourism practices.