'To love nature is human nature'. Photo / Instagram, kafelnikova_a
'To love nature is human nature'. Photo / Instagram, kafelnikova_a
A Russian model has apologised for using an endangered Sumatran elephant as a prop in a raunchy Instagram shoot.
Alesya Kafelnikova, the daughter of the tennis star Yevgeny, posed naked on the back of the elephant, sharing a photo with her 41,000 followers under the caption "natural vibes". However farfrom sharing these 'vibes' the photo has scandalised conservationists and nature lovers.
"Poor elephant. Aren't you ashamed?" protested one commentator "This is a living creature."
'Unnatural': Bali's Tourism chief hit out at the influencer's use of a Sumatran elephant. Photo / Instagram, kafelnikova_a
Sumatran elephants are not endemic in Bali. The pachyderms were imported to the Indonesian island mostly for tourism, rather than for labour.
Appearing in several photos, shared to Alesya's social media, the influencer protested that: "to love nature is human nature".
Last weekend she shared an apology along with another photo of herself with an elephant, defending the photos as part of her "charity work".
In both English and phonetic Balinese, she wrote: "I love elephants! And I love Bali so so much! I hope each of you will awaken an aesthetic love for my post and the beauty.
"I didn't have a purpose to hurt the feelings of local people at all. We love Balinese culture and respect Indonesian rules. Please sorry if you see something else in this," she said. "I would wish that all those who are so negative will awaken an aesthetic love for my post and you will see the wonderful beauty in it."
The stunt drew criticism from Bali Tourism Agency chief Putu Astawa, who said the act did "not meet the norms that we are promoting as part of tourism in Bali."
Apologies: Alesya told her followers she was sorry and loved both Elephants and Bali. Photo / Sreenshot, Instagram
Similarly Save the Asian Elephants released a statement saying it was:
"Yet another tragic trivialisation of the majestic Asian elephant when the species is fighting for its very existence against brutal abuse in tourism and human 'entertainment'."
"Save The Asian Elephants stands for a ban by law on the advertising and sale of unethical venues where these special creatures are commercialised with beating, stabbing and every kind of torture to break them for easy commercial exploitation – genuine sanctuaries only," the organisation told the SunOnline.
According to the WWF there could be as few as 2400 wild Sumatran elephants left in Indonesia. The organisation says the population has shrunk dramatically with rapid deforestation on Sumatra. The shrinking habitat has caused the elephants to come into confrontation with foresters and hunters, who have been known to shoot or trap the animals.
According to the WWF they are part of maintaining the ecosystem by feeding "on a variety of plants and [depositing] seeds wherever they go, contributing to a healthy forest ecosystem."
Alesya's father, Yevgeny has not made a public statement on the photo.
