This is the shocking moment a golden jackal tried to kidnap a boy as his frantic mother batted the animal away.

CCTV footage shows a group of children running to safety inside a blue house while the toddler sits nearby in Maharashtra, India.

Moments later, the fox-like canid came and slowly approached the unsuspecting child before it bit his foot and yanked him off the veranda.

Upon seeing this, the frantic parent immediately hit the beast with her slipper on the head, causing the animal to let go and run away.

Local media reported that the golden jackal injured six people, including two children, in its attack in Matul and Cheleri on September 30.

Residents informed the forest department team to capture the animal after they were unsuccessful in driving it out of the villages.

Officials said: 'The jackal likely entered the populated area in search of food and water.'

Experts said such incidents are increasing due to the ever-shrinking habitat and human interference in the forests.

The golden jackal is an incredibly adaptable, social omnivore and opportunistic scavenger, thriving across diverse habitats, from dry scrublands to agricultural fields, by feeding on rodents, fruits, carrion, and various other animals.