A wild rhinoceros chased and attacked a motorcycle rider passing through a nature sanctuary in India.

The beast emerged from a row of trees lining the road and blocked the path for motorist Saddam Hussain, 37, in Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary as he travelled to another district on September 29.

Footage shows the furious animal charging at Saddam who was sitting on his motorbike. He tried to flee by jumping into a ravine but the rhino followed him.

The enraged rhino after Saddam in the fields and eventually caught up with him before being trampled to death.

There were other drivers and locals nearby but were scared to intervene so they called the forest rangers for help.

Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary Forest Range Officer Nayan Jyoti Das said: ‘The rhino came out near Haduk Bridge and attacked him while travelling from Mayong to Chamata area. We are investigating the incident.'

The forest range officer added Saddam later died from his injuries.

He said: ‘The victim had succumbed to his injuries sustained from the rhino attack.'

The population of Indian rhinos drastically declined in the early 20th century due to habitat loss and poaching, but conservation efforts helped the population rebound. As of 2023, there are now more than 3,700 Indian rhinos, with Kaziranga National Park home to more than 2,600.