Who Was Chanchal? All About Jaipur's Viral 'Pink Elephant' Who Died At 70

A photoshoot that began as an artistic tribute to Rajasthan's vibrant culture has snowballed into one of India's most talked-about animal welfare controversies of 2026. At the heart of it is Chanchal, an elderly female elephant from Jaipur's Hathi Gaon, who was painted bright pink for a conceptual photoshoot by a foreign photographer and who passed away just months later. While authorities insist there is no connection between the two events, the internet has not been so quick to move on.

Who was Chanchal?

Chanchal was a female elephant who lived in Jaipur's Hathi Gaon, or Elephant Village, a dedicated settlement where elephants are housed and looked after by traditional mahouts. As per media reports, she was approximately 70 years old at the time of her death. According to the Hathi Gaon committee and local handlers, she had been under regular care and supervision in her later years and was no longer being used for elephant rides due to her old age.

Those who knew her describe Chanchal as a calm, elderly animal who had spent her entire life in Jaipur's elephant community. Her passing in February 2026 was attributed to natural, age-related causes, a conclusion firmly maintained by both her owner, Shadik Khan, and local officials. There is no verified evidence linking her death to the photoshoot that has since made her famous.

The viral photoshoot

The controversy traces back to 2025, when Barcelona-based Russian conceptual photographer Julia Buruleva was on a six-week art expedition through India. Captivated by Jaipur's iconic Pink City aesthetic, she conceived an idea: a surreal, all-pink visual featuring a model and an elephant, set against the backdrop of an abandoned temple dedicated to Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed Hindu deity, in the heart of the city.

As reported by NDTV, the shoot featured model Yashasvi alongside Chanchal, with both the model and the elephant painted in a vivid, matching shade of pink. According to Buruleva, she used organic, locally-made gulal powder, the same colour powder widely used during the Holi festival, and described the elephant as appearing "calm, relaxed and responsive" throughout.

Shadik Khan, Chanchal's owner, confirmed that the shoot lasted only about 10 minutes and that the gulal was washed off immediately after. Ballu Khan, president of the Hathi Gaon committee, added that the paint was removed within 30 minutes.

Buruleva posted the images on her Instagram page in December 2025, drawing little attention at the time. But when the photographs resurfaced and went viral in March 2026, the reaction was swift and fierce. While some users praised the visual artistry of the project, a far larger wave of criticism emerged, with many accusing the photographer of animal cruelty and cultural insensitivity.