A poacher identified as Bijay Singh of Rabda village, Jharsewa has been caught trespassing into the forests of the Betla range of the Palamau Tiger Reserve (PTR), and was arrested on Saturday.

His muzzle-loaded gun, concealed in a Chilbil tree, was seized on Sunday.

“A camera installed by us in the Betla range recorded his an image of him which our range officials scanned thoroughly,” Kumar Ashish deputy director North division of the tiger reserve told The Telegraph Online on Sunday.

“The features of this man were studied. His body built, height etc. noted. Our moles informed us of a similar-looking man at the village in Rabda,” said Ashish, adding that his team was not mistaken.

“The man identified himself as Bijay Singh and also confessed to have sneaked into our forest with a muzzle-loaded gun for hunting either wild boar or deer,” said the deputy director.

“The man was oblivious to the fact that a camera was spying on him,” said Ashish.

Satbarwa police played a big role in his nabbing.

Singh is not a lone poacher, and there are 10 others about whom he has given information to the Betla range officials.

“We have been telling people in and around the PTR not to harm wildlife, even birds, but for some do not listen because of their taste buds and face legal action,” said the deputy director of the north division.

With the festive season weeks away, forest patrol in the PTR has been stepped up to protect its wildlife.

Sources said the river Auranga that passes through the PTR is a haven for poachers who take great advantage of the area.