Naurzum Nature Reserve are inhabited by elk ("Alces alces"), Tartarian roe deer ("Capreolus pygargus"), Eurasian lynx ("Lynx lynx"), badger ("Meles meles"), ermine ("Mustela erminea"), weasel ("Mustela nivalis"), pine marten ("Martes martes") and raccoon dog ("Nyctereutes procyonoides"), red squirrel ("Sciurus vulgaris"), European hedgehog ("Erinaceus europaeus"), Blue Hare ("Lepus timidus"). Mainly along rivers one can also find wild boar ("Sus scrofa"). Among the species, which can be found occasionally in the deserts and semi deserts of the reserve is the rare saiga antelope ("Saiga tatarica"). Naurzum Nature Reserve Naurzum State Nature Reserve is a nature reserve in Kazakhstan. It is part of the UNESCO heritage
Meles (genus) has been much discussion as to whether it is a single species or three distinct species. There are geographical differences between individuals from different parts of the range in skull structure, morphology of the first premolar teeth, and facial markings. Some authorities advocated placing European and Asian badgers in separate species, "Meles meles" and "Meles leptorhynchus" (Milne-Edwards, 1867), the boundary between the two being the Volga River. Others considered there to be three subspecies, "M. m. meles", found west of the Volga, "M. m. arenarius-leptorhynchus", found between the Volga and Transbaikalia, and "M. m. amurensis-anakuma" from the Amur region and