A leopard was run over by a speeding vehicle on NH55, on the fringes of Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary, near Sukna on Wednesday morning.

Foresters of the Darjeeling wildlife division have recovered the carcass. The killer vehicle is yet to be traced.

Officials said the injury marks suggested the leopard was crossing the highway when it was hit by the vehicle.

“Early in the morning, some residents spotted the leopard’s bloodied carcass on the highway near the Koklang forest beat of the Sukna forest. The animal was around one year old,” said a forest official.

The accident spot is around 12km from Siliguri, between Sukna and Rongtong.

In recent years, this is the first time a leopard was found dead on this stretch of NH55, which skirts the wildlife sanctuary that is famous for leopards and elephants.

Such accidents have been reported in the Dooars, near Gorumara National Park, as well. “Large stretches of the foothills are surrounded by forests and roads leading to the hills cut through forests. Despite display boards marking animal crossing zones, some drivers do not slow down,” a forester said.

The department, he said, will approach the Darjeeling district administration and the police to spread awareness among drivers.

Wildlife conservationists have expressed concern over the death of the leopard.

“It is necessary to conserve leopards. Stern action should be taken against those who flout rules while driving through fringes of wildlife habitats,” said Animesh Bose, an environmentalist in Siliguri.