Elephant's Death in Jaipur Sparks Animal Welfare Debate

Apr 7, 2026

69 min

Apr 7, 2026 09:30

Jaipur's pink elephant death case: Sparks animal welfare debate in India

## Controversy Over Elephant's Death

The death of Chanchal, a 67-year-old elephant painted pink for a photoshoot in Jaipur, has ignited a heated debate on animal welfare in India. The photoshoot, conducted by Russian photographer Julia Buruleva, involved painting Chanchal with gulal, a traditional colored powder used during Holi. Although the paint was washed off shortly after, animal rights activists have criticized the act, linking it to Chanchal's death.

## Postmortem Findings

A postmortem report confirmed that Chanchal died of cardiac arrest due to old age on February 4, 2026. Dr. Arvind Mathur, part of the postmortem team, stated that her death was natural and unrelated to the photoshoot. The Elephant Village Committee also refuted claims that the photoshoot contributed to her demise.

## Public Outcry and PETA's Involvement

The controversy gained traction when images from the photoshoot went viral, prompting actress Rupali Ganguly and others to demand a ban on elephant rides. PETA India has since urged Buruleva to either remove the commercial prints of Chanchal or donate proceeds to elephant conservation efforts. They highlighted potential risks of applying paint near sensitive areas of the elephant.

## Broader Concerns

PETA's letter also addressed the treatment of elephants used for rides at Amer Fort, citing issues like chaining and harsh control methods. The organization pointed out past incidents involving Chanchal's owner, raising broader concerns about elephant welfare in the region.

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