01/04/2026
Chanchal was 65 years old. A life that should have been lived with dignity was instead reduced to a painted display for a photoshoot.
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This is what private ownership does. It turns a sentient, gentle being into something to be used, controlled, and showcased - until there is nothing left.
No justification can bring her back. No explanation can erase what happened.
If this doesn’t disturb us, then we have truly lost our sense of compassion.
Elephants are not meant for our use. They are not entertainment.
They deserve freedom, respect, and a life away from human control.
It’s time to stop looking away.
streetdogsofbombay This 65-year-old elephant, Chanchal, is no more. This gentle soul died after a photoshoot, according to her owner, Shadik Khan.
Legal action should now be taken against Russian photographer Julia Buruleva