Nainital, Nov 10 : A three-year-old male leopard was killed in a road accident near Ramnagar forest area of Jim Corbett National Park on Sunday.

Wildlife officials said they found the dead leopard during regular patrolling.

Preliminary investigations reveal the leopard could have been hit by a speeding vehicle.

" There were blood stains and blood was coming out from its nose also," said Prakash Chand, Range Officer, Ramnagar Forest Division.

"The blood samples have been taken and further investigations would be carried out," he added.

Leopards are under threat from poachers and villagers.

With tiger population dwindling in recent years as a result of poaching, wildlife officials say hunters have increasingly set their sights on leopards.

Depletion of their habitat has also threatened leopards, forcing them to stray into human settlements.

India had about 7,300 leopards according to a 1997 census, but conservationists say the number is now likely to be much lower. (ANI)