WHEN wildlife artist Robert E Fuller travelled to Namibia this summer it was to paint endangered species in order to help save them - instead he found he had to save himself from a deadly charge.

The wildlife artist, who lives in Thixendale, had planned to photograph rare black rhinos and desert elephants for an exhibition on his return to the UK.

But while he was photographing a black rhino, the one-ton animal suddenly broke into a trot and began to charge him.

Robert said: “I had driven into the path of the rhino so that I could get closer to it for some photographs when it suddenly started trotting towards me. Then it heard the engine of a vehicle behind me and the trot broke into a full on charge.

“It came straight towards both vehicles at full pelt and for a moment I really thought it was going to go for us. Luckily with about 20 yards to go it stopped suddenly in a cloud of dust and then held its head high in the air listening and scenting the air.

“At the time I just kept on taking photographs, but afterwards when I saw how frightened the others in our party were, I realised how close we had come.”

The experience has not daunted the artist’s respect for black rhinos, which are one of the world’s most endangered species.

He is now planning to sketch the rhino that charged him and the finished picture will be auctioned in aid of Save the Rhino.

The artist’s exhibition to raise awareness for endangered species is currently on at his gallery in Thixendale. Saving Nature is open daily at Fotherdale Farm, Thixendale, until November 29. For more information, robertefuller.com