Financial Tribune - A Persian leopard was captured on cameras late last week while drinking from a waterhole in Ashk Island of Urmia Lake, West Azarbaijan Province.

According to Parviz Arasteh, head of the provincial office of the Department of Environment, due to the desiccation of the lake's southern part, the land has been connected to Ashk Island, allowing the big cats into the natural habitat of another rare species, the Persian fallow deer.

"Besides leopards, wolves and jackals are also among the new guests entering the island," IRNA quoted him as saying.