A pink and gold-painted elephant stirred controversy last weekend amongst Los Angeles Animal Services. The elephant was part of an art exhibition by UK Artist Banksy.

The 38-year-old Indian elephant was painted and put inside a "mocked-up" house to represent the way world poverty is ignored.

Head of Animal Services in Los Angeles Ed Boks said, "I think it sends a very wrong message that abusing animals is not only OK, it's an art form. We find it no longer acceptable to dye baby chicks at Easter, but it's OK to dye an elephant."

Boks tried to revoke the permit given for the exhibition but it would have been too late.

He said, "Permits will not be issued for such frivolous abuse of animals in the future."

The animal's owner Kari Johnson said Tai the elephant was not harmed. She even joked that Tai has been in movies and is therefore used to having make-up on.