The death of a 65-year-old elephant in Jaipur has ignited a nationwide backlash, with thousands demanding legal action against artist Julia Buruleva. Public anger surged across India following reports that the elephant, named Chanchal, died just two months after being used in a photoshoot involving body paint, an incident that had already drawn criticism at the time.
The controversy centres on Russian artist Julia Buruleva, whose work at a temple site in Jaipur involved painting directly onto the elephant's skin. The animal's death has shifted public sentiment sharply, fuelling calls for an official investigation and potential prosecution, though no official body has confirmed a causal link between the photoshoot and Chanchal's death.
