Horror moment six injured as rhino charges at tourists and flips jeep into ditch

28 February 2023 , 06:12

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The rhino emerged suddenly from behind a bush (Image: Newslions / SWNS)

A rhinoceros and her calf charged at a group of stunned tourists before flipping their jeep into a ditch.

The terrifying safari ordeal was caught on camera as six people were left injured.

The incident happened at Jaldapara National Park in the Uttar Madarihat region of north-east India.

The driver of the jeep attempted to reverse as the animals attacked but the vehicle was toppled over as the rhinos charged.

Tourists had been taking photos and standing in the vehicle before the animal charged at them from the undergrowth.

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The jeep went over a ledge and flipped as it reversed, causing several injuries.

The jeep ended up in a ditch as it tried to reverse (Newslions / SWNS)

One woman suffered a broken bone, while others escaped with minor ailments.

Footage from the jeeps behind the one attacked shows the rhinos making off into the bush after the jeep flips.

Tour guide Mithun Biswas said in quotes reported by The Sun: "We are fortunate that the rhino didn’t attack us the second time when the car toppled. We were all in shock."

Social media users called for safari parks to introduce tougher safety regulations following the incident.

Six people were injured in the incident (Newslions / SWNS)

One user said: "Time that safaris are regulated. Tourism may be helping generate revenue for protection of wildlife, but there have to be clear rules."

Poaching and habitat loss have led to a dramatic decline in rhino numbers in the wild, with very few of the estimated 27,000 living in the wild doing so outside of national parks.

While there has been a crackdown on the trading of ivory in recent years, including a total ban in China, there remains a black market worth millions of pounds a year.

David Clark