The carcass of an adult male leopard was found near a stream flowing through a tea estate in Nagrakata block of Jalpaiguri on Thursday afternoon.

The carcass, foresters said, bore injury marks that possibly point to death while fighting with other animals. However, foresters are awaiting the post-mortem report.

“The leopard has injury marks in its throat and tongue, and there are claw marks on its body. We suspect a case of infighting but can confirm it after the autopsy report is received,” said Rajkumar Layak, range officer of Khunia.

Sources said during the past few weeks, the leopard was roaming in the plantations of Nagrakata tea estate and taking away cattle and poultry. Perturbed residents had informed foresters who laid a trap to cage the leopard. “It could not be trapped and foresters took away the cage. In the past three-four days, we saw its activities again,” said a resident.

On Thursday, some workers spotted the carcass near the Sadhukhola stream.