A three-year-old leopard died after it got trapped in a steel wire noose at a coffee estate in Athichal village in the district on Wednesday, police said.

The villagers had heard the sound of leopard late last night, but did not venture out as it was pitch dark. Early this morning, they found it dead in the noose, placed to trap animals like wild boar, which destroys crops, police said.

Veterinarian Prabhu said that the leopard would be buried after postmortem is conducted.

Police said action would be taken against the estate owner after an enquiry.