An adult female rhino was found dead at the Jaldapara National Park, Bengal’s largest habitat of the one-horned rhino, in Alipurduar district on Sunday.

Foresters said its horn is missing and suspect poaching. Senior officials of the state forest department have ordered a probe, but no arrests have been made so far.

Sources said on Sunday, forest guards patrolling in Bania 1 & 2 compartments of Chilapata range under Jaldapara wildlife division spotted the carcass. “Preliminary probe showed it died couple of days back. Our men used a metal detector on the carcass and found metal. It seems the rhino may have been shot,” said a senior forest official.

Around 300 rhinos reside in Jaldapara.

Rajendra Jakhar, the chief conservator of forests (wildlife, north), said they have sought a comprehensive report of the incident.