The Greater and Lesser Balkan Mountains form one of the most distinctive natural regions of Turkmenistan, known for their diverse and well-preserved wildlife. According to recent scientific data, approximately 28 species of reptiles inhabit this area. Among amphibians, the Central Asian tetraploid green frog is of particular importance, representing a rare relict species preserved within Turkmenistan’s ecosystems.

Semi-stabilized sandy areas and clay-rich plains provide habitats for the Central Asian tortoise, various lizard species, common arrow snakes, desert monitor lizards, and burrowing desert snakes. The fauna of the Balkan Mountains in Turkmenistan also includes species such as the Asian spotted whip snake, the Caucasian agama, and the red-striped racer.

One of the most remarkable reptiles of the region is the gray monitor lizard, often referred to as the “desert crocodile.” This large predator inhabits territories ranging from foothills to high plateaus and inaccessible mountain slopes. Reaching lengths of up to 1.5 meters, it enters summer dormancy during periods of extreme heat, particularly in July, which later transitions into winter hibernation.

The mammalian fauna of the Balkan region in Turkmenistan includes several rare and locally distinctive species, such as Severtsov’s jerboa, the Kopetdag hamster, the Turkmen corsac fox, the mountain otter, the Turkmen caracal, and the manul. These species highlight the ecological significance of the area.

Birds, especially birds of prey, serve as important indicators of environmental health. Over different years, between 120 and 170 bird species have been recorded in the Balkan Mountains of Turkmenistan, including migratory species. Currently, eagles, bearded vultures, saker falcons, Caucasian buzzards, and numerous passerine birds nest in the region.

The Lesser Balkan Mountains are distinguished by their unusual, moon-like landscapes. The complex terrain attracts both researchers and travelers. The Chalsuw spring, whose name translates as “water emerging from camel thorn,” is renowned for its fresh and clean drinking water. The highest point of the Lesser Balkan rises 780 meters above sea level.

In the past, during particularly harsh winters, saiga antelopes migrated from Kazakhstan to the northern slopes of the Balkan Mountains. However, since the late 1990s, a significant decline in hoofed animal populations along the borders of Turkmenistan with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan has resulted in the disappearance of saigas from this region.