Lucknow, Dec 17 - Five poachers from Bihar were arrested with skins of leopards, spotted deer and other animals in Uttar Pradesh's Sonbhadra district, police said Thursday.

The five men, who are from Kaimur district in Bihar, were arrested Wednesday night from Pannuganj town, some 250 km from Lucknow.

"The five men, who are in the age group of 35-40, have confessed to have been in the illegal wildlife trade for the past five years," police Inspector Sheshdhar Pandey told reporters Thursday in Sonbhadra.

According to police, skins of two leopards, two spotted deer and four skins suspected to be of tigers, were recovered from their possession.

"The four skins can be of tiger also. We have informed the forest officials, who would ascertain their identity," district police chief Pritendra Pal Singh told IANS by phone. (IANS)