A leopard was found dead at a tea estate in Madarihat block of Alipurduar district on Wednesday, its injuries and post-mortem report confirming murder.

Foresters have initiated a probe and are trying to trace those who had killed the animal.

“During preliminary investigation, it has been found that the leopard was attacked with sharp weapons and sticks. It tried to save itself but died of injuries. We have received the post-mortem report where vets have also confirmed the killing. Our officers are in search of those who were involved in the crime,” said Deepak M., the divisional forest officer of Jaldapara wildlife division, under which the area falls.

On Wednesday morning, some Garganda tea estate residents spotted the carcass near a primary school in the garden. The area is under the Lankapara forest range of Jaldapara National Park, the largest habitat of one-horned rhinos in the state and also a habitat of leopards and other wild animals.

They informed foresters who rushed to the spot. It was found that the animal is a sub-adult male leopard with injuries on its face and head.

The nature of the injuries left foresters suspecting that the animal, who possibly strayed into the garden from Lankapara forest, did not die a natural death. They brought in a trained sniffer dog of the department and initiated an investigation. The post-mortem confirmed the suspicion.

In 2018, two leopards were poisoned at this tea estate.

Recently, a Himalayan black bear was beaten to death in a tea estate in Jalpaiguri after he killed a teenager who ventured too close to it.

Animesh Bose, wild conservationist in Siliguri, said: “Man-animal conflicts are rising. It is worrying that people are killing wild animals. People should act responsibly.”