The decomposed carcass of an adult wild leopard was recovered from the plantations of Kilkot tea estate, located in the Matialli block of Jalpaiguri district on Monday.

Sources said a group of workers reached smelt a stench emanating from Shibbari section of the garden when they reached plantation to pluck tea leaves. The workers then began a search and found the decomposed carcass of the big cat.

As the news spread, other garden workers reached the spot.

Also, the foresters from the wildlife squad that is stationed in Khunia reached the plantation and recovered the carcass.

The foresters suspect that the animal had died around four-five days back. “We will conduct a post-mortem to know the cause of its death,” said a forester.

During the past few days, this is the second incident when the carcass of a leopard was recovered from a tea estate in the Dooars.

On May 18, a decomposed carcass of another leopard was recovered from the plantations of Gandrapara tea estate located in the adjoining Banarhat block of Jalpaiguri district.