Gelegphu Range Officials found a dead leopard at the Serkem Forest under Jigme Chhoeling Gewog, on January 24.
The leopard is said to have been killed by a trap, which had been set up by an orchard-owner to prevent their farm produce being damaged by wild animals.
The owner will have to pay Nu. 60,000 as penalty for killing the leopard.
The forest falls under the biological corridor of the Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park, under which killing of wild animals is prohibited. Forest officials had also found several other traps within the vicinity and have removed them.