The fauna of vertebrate animals of the reserve is represented by 32 species of fish, 3 species of amphibians, 19 species of reptiles, 284 species of birds, 39 species of mammals.
Fish
The fish fauna includes 32 species, 9 of which are native and 23 are introduced. 6 species are endemic – Semirechensk minnow (Phoxinus brachyurus) and Balkhash minnow (Lagowskiella poljakowi), Balkhash marinka (Schizothorax argentatus), unicolored sponge (Triplophysa labiata), spotted sponge (Triplophysa strauchii), Severtsev’s char (Nemacheilus sewerzowi) and Balkhash perch ( Perca schrenkii).
Amphibians
Currently, 3 amphibian species are known for the Ile Delta: the Central Asian toad (Bufo pewzowi), the lake frog (Rana ridibunda), and the Central Asian frog (Rana asiatica).
The Central Asian frog (Rana asiatica) has ceased to occur in the last two decades, presumably as a result of displacement by the lake frog. It is listed in the Red Book of Kazakhstan.
Reptiles
According to the Book of the genetic fund of the fauna of Kazakhstan in the delta part of the river. At least 19 species of reptiles inhabit the Ile and the adjacent territory of the Saxaul massifs:
Central Asian turtle – Agrionemys horsfieldi
The Skink dragon – Teratoscincus scincus
Squeaky gecko – Alsophylax pipiens
Grey gecko – Tenuidactylus russowi
Steppe agama – Agama sanguinolenta
Roundhead flipper – Phrynocephalus guttatus
Big–eared roundhead – Phrynocephalus mystaceus
Fast foot–and-mouth disease – Eremias velox
Multicolored foot–and-mouth disease – Eremias arguta
Striped foot–and-mouth disease – Eremias scripta
Linear foot–and-mouth disease – Eremias lineolata
Medium foot–and-mouth disease – Eremias intermedia
Mesh foot–and-mouth disease – Eremias grammica
Oriental boa constrictor — Eryx tataricus
Water Snake – Natrix tessellate
Ordinary grass snake – Natrix natrix
Patterned skid – Elaphe dione
Arrow snake – Psammophis lineolatum
Muzzle – Gloudius halys
Birds
The avifauna of the reserve territory is represented by 284 species from 53 families of 17 orders: Loon-like (1 family, 1 species); Grebe-like (1 family, 5 species); Oar-footed (2 families, 3 species); Stork-like (3 families, 9 species); Goose-like (1 family, 27 species); Falcons (3 sem., 29 species); Chicken-like (1 sem., 3 species); Crane-like (3 sem., 12 species); Plover-like (7 sem., 46 species); Pigeon-like (2 sem., 9 species); Cuckoo-like (1 sem., 1 species); Owl-like (1 family, 7 species); Nightjar-like (1 family, 1 species); Haircut-like (1 family, 1 species); Crab-like (4 families, 5 species); Woodpeckers (1 family, 2 species); Sparrow-like (20 families, 117 species).
The main core of the avifauna consists of 150 breeding species, including 22 sedentary ones: white-tailed eagle, grey partridge, pheasant, owl, house owl, white-winged woodpecker, blue pigeon, ringed turtle dove, lesser turtle dove, crested lark, magpie, black crow, desert raven, saxaul jay, mustachioed tit, remez, white lapis lazuli, great tit, gray tit, reed bunting, field sparrow, house sparrow.
The number of migrants includes 125 species. 6 species are classified as stray — loaf, red-throated goose, mountain goose, dry-nosed, black vulture, white-tailed piglet. Overwintering, including sedentary, are 88 species.
The category of birds that disappeared from nesting in the second half of the twentieth century includes 4 species: loaf, osprey, corncrake, white-tailed piglet. Most of them, except the last one, are found here at the present time during the migration period. As a result of the natural processes of settlement in the Ile delta, 6 new species appeared at the nesting site during this period: ringed turtle dove, small turtle dove, red-bellied swallow, long-tailed shrike, great tit.
The key ones are the species that are important for the conservation of ecosystems. These include 20 breeding species: curly pelican, savka, white-eyed blackbird, burial ground, steppe kestrel, beauty bustard, saja (Red list of IUCN), pink pelican, spoonbill, golden eagle, white-tailed eagle, gray crane, whooper swan, black-bellied grouse, brown pigeon, owl, Ili saxaul jay (Red Book of Kazakhstan), white-winged woodpecker, gray tit, saxaul sparrow (endemic or close to them).
Indicator species, reacting to natural and anthropogenic factors by reducing or increasing their numbers and even complete extinction, serve as indicators of the state and well-being of the natural environment or individual ecosystems. 30 species of birds are classified as indicator birds: great grebe, curly pelican, pink pelican, great cormorant, great white heron, gray heron, spoonbill, gray goose, hissing swan, whooper swan, ogar, mallard, gray duck, red-nosed diving, white-eyed black, white-tailed eagle, beauty bustard, coot, lake gull, laughing gull, blackcurrant, river tern, stilt-walker, saja, black-bellied grouse, brown pigeon. white-winged woodpecker, Ili saxaul jay, gray tit, saxaul sparrow.
33 rare and endangered bird species living here are listed in the Red Book of the Republic of Kazakhstan, of which 19 are breeding, 11 are migrants and 3 are migratory. This territory is especially important as a nesting place for curly-haired and pink pelicans, spoonbills, savka, white–eyed black-tailed eagle, and adjacent deserts – saxaul jay, saji, black-bellied grouse.
20 species belong to the category of globally threatened bird species listed in the IUCN Red Lists, of which 8 are breeding: curly pelican, savka, white-eyed blackbird, burial ground, steppe kestrel, beauty bustard, brown pigeon, blue-throated.
Mammals
The mammalian faunal complex is represented by 39 species, 3 of which are listed in the Red Book of Kazakhstan.
From the order of Insectivores, three species are found on the territory of the reserve: big-eared hedgehog (Erinaceus auritus), small white-toothed hedgehog (Crocidura suaveolens), piebald putorak (Diplomesodon pulchellum).
The order of Bats is represented by the whiskered moth (Myotis mystacinus), the gray ushan (Plekotus austriacus) and the late leather (Eptesicus serotinus).
The Predatory group is represented by 10 species on the territory of the reserve. Of these, 4 species (jackal, wolf, korsak, fox) belong to the canid family. The family of martens is represented by five species: weasel (Mustela nivalis), steppe ferret (Mustela eversmanni), solongoi (Mustela altaica), bandaging (Vormela peregusna), badger (Meles meles). The feline family is represented by the steppe cat (Felis libyca).
The order Artiodactyls, the pig family includes one species – wild boar (Sus scrofa). The deer family is represented by the Siberian roe deer (Capreolus pygargus). Of the rare species of artiodactyls in the territory of the Southern Balkhash region, the gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa) is found. In summer, single saiga (Saiga tatarica) individuals from the Betpakdalinsk-Arys group may meet in the southwestern part of the reserve territory.
The Rodent order includes six families: squirrels, false cockles, jerboa, hamsters, gerbils, mice. The squirrel family includes three species: thin-toed ground squirrel (Spermophilopsis leptodactylus), red-cheeked ground squirrel (Spermophilus erythrogenus intermedius), yellow ground squirrel (Spermophilus fulvus).
The family of false jerboa is represented by the following species: Zhitkov’s jerboa (Pygerethmus zhitkovi), small jerboa (Allactaga elater). A representative of the family of jerboa — emuranchik (Stylodipus telum), shaggy—legged jerboa (Dipus sagitta), Liechtenstein jerboa (Eremodipus lichtensteini), pale dwarf jerboa (Salpingotus pallidus) – is listed in the Red Book of Kazakhstan.
The hamster family is represented by three species: the gray hamster (Cricetulus migratorius), the muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus), and the water vole (Arvicola terrestris).
The order is hare-like, the family of hares is represented by tolai (Lepus tolai). The gerbil family consists of 4 species: the great gerbil (Rhombomys opimus), the crested gerbil (Meriones tamariscinus), the red-tailed gerbil (Meriones libycus), the midday gerbil (Meriones meridianus). The mouse family includes: house mouse (Mus musculus) and forest mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus).