In
the arid and semiarid lowlands a large portion
of the animal life is reptilian, though in the mountains, goats, deer,
lynx, bear, wolves, foxes, raccoons, weasels, marten, hedgehogs,
shrews, badgers and wild boar are found. Azerbaijan has over 12,000 animal
species. There are gazelles (Jeyran) on the coastal plains, and camels
in the Kura plain.
Some
40 of rodents live in the country, including jerboas, squirrels,
voles, jirds, mice, hamsters and the Indian Porcupine (Hystrix indica)
porcupines in the Talysh forests south of Lenkoran. Bats are everywhere,
with 30 species living in Azerbaijan. There are 52 species of reptiles
in the country, most of these species are found in semi-desert areas in
Shamakhi and Nakhchivan. Amphibians are less common, only 10 species.
Azerbaijan
is home to a rare species of leopard found only in remote areas
of the southern Caucasus Mountains and currently facing extinction (Caucasus
Leopard / Panthera pardus ciscaucasica). The WWF considers it the most
critically endangered species in the Caucasus Ecoregion. The species is
threatened by poachers who kill the animals and sell their highly-prized
skins on the black market.
The
southern part of the country used to have tigers, but the Caspian
tiger (Panthera tigris virgata) is now almost certainly since the 1970s,
in spite of some alleged sightings. Striped hyenas can occasionally
be spotted in the warm areas.
There are 363 species of birds, from about 60 families. Around 40% of the bird species are resident. One of the most inspiring bird specie is the Golden Eagle which inhabits mainly mountainous areas such as Nakhichevan. If you love bird watching, head south: over 200 species of birds be seen in the Kizilagach / Kizilagadj Reserve (in the Lenkoran lowlands).
The
waters of the Caspian are abundant in sturgeon (four fifths of the
world's sturgeon are found here - although stocks are dwindling due to
over fishing), along with herring, salmon, the rare pike perch and other
less important species. The Caspian sea's only marine mammal, the Caspian
seal (Phoca caspica), is now almost completely gone from the Azeri coast.
National
Parks of Azerbaijan
* Ordubad National Park
* Shirvan National Park
* Ag-Gol National Park
* Hirkan National Park
* Altyaghach National Park
* Absheron National Park
State
Reserves of Azerbaijan
* Goy-Gol State Reserve
* Gyzylaghadj State Reserve
* Zagatala State Reserve
* Turyanchay State Reserve
* Pirgulu State Reserve
* 
Shirvan
State Reserve
* Besitchay State Reserve
* Qarayazy State Reserve
* Ismayilly State Reserve
* Qaragol State Reserve
* Ilisu State Reserve
* Shahbuz State Reserve
* Eldar pine-tree State Reserve
State
Game Reserves of Azerbaijan
Major Caucasus:
* State Game Reserve of Shaki
* State Game Reserve of Qusar
* State Game Reserve of Qabala
* State Game Reserve of Ismailly
* State Game Reserve of Qakh
Minor Caucasus:
* State Game Reserve of Qubadly
* State Game Reserve of Lachyn
* State Game Reserve of Dashalty
* State Game Reserve of Qyzyldja
* State Game Reserve of Arazboyu