A female Russian photographer at the centre of a scandal over painting an elephant bright pink is ‘facing death threats’.
Julia Buruleva, 47, has been hit by a storm of protest following the animal’s death four months after her controversial shoot.
She insists the Indian elephant expired from ‘old age’ – but admits she was warned her project was contentious when she sought ‘half naked’ local models to pose in pink in the stunt.
The Russian woman has now launched – with mixed results – an online petition to seek support for herself over the pink elephant photo.
Buruleva has previously pictured coloured camels in her work as an ‘art photographer’.
She received a wave of backlash after it was revealed the 65-year-old ‘pink elephant’ had died following the shoot, even though there is nothing to connect the shoot with the death.
The Russian posted: ‘How would you cope if you were bombarded with hate of this magnitude?
‘Literally the entire Indian press wrote about the controversial pink elephant shoot, and there are 1.5 billion Indians.
‘And now it’s all spreading beyond India, too.
‘I’m getting ten messages a minute, curses and death wishes for me and my loved ones. I’m just too tired to keep track…’
But she also revealed that her search for models was not straightforward, with warnings to her.
Buruleva posted: ‘Finding a model wasn’t easy.
‘In India’s conservative community, finding someone willing to be half-naked and painted pink [riding the elephant] was tricky.
‘I messaged dozens of models – almost nobody agreed.
‘Even those who loved the idea said: ‘My family won’t understand.’
Yet this did not deter her,
‘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,
The Indian media highlighted that Buruleva is now seeking public online support for herself.
She complained of ‘hate, threats, and even death wishes – to me, my friends, models, and followers’.
Buruleva was backed today by less than one hundred shares.
‘Sorry but no, you don’t deserve support, it was an elder elephant that couldn’t say if it was in pain or uncomfortable,’ said one comment.
‘Animals aren’t trophies or toys.’
She was told: ‘You abused an elderly elephant just for a photo shoot. That elephant is now gone AND YOU ARE TRYING TO JUSTIFY YOURSELF !?!? Unbelievable.’
