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) Primorskii. Genetic studies of mitochondrial DNA shows the separation of two variants on either side of the Volga but their exact taxonomic rank remains undefined. A further study of cheek teeth from individuals across the entire range supports this division and provides confirmation that "M. meles" and "M. anakuma" are indeed separate species. A further species is "Meles thorali" from the late Pleistocene, known only from fossil remains, specimens of which have been found at Saint-Vallier, Drôme, in southeastern France and Binagady, in Azerbaijan. These have large cheek teeth and characteristics intermediate between "M. meles" and "M. anakuma". It is