It is known that Hengyang City is home to more than 200 species of mammals and birds, including 30 species of mammals and over 170 species of birds from 17 orders and 40 families.

National First-Class Protected Animals: Clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), white stork (Ciconia ciconia), river deer (Hydropotes inermis, also known as water chevrotain), and Chinese merganser (Mergus squamatus).

National Second-Class Protected Animals: Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla), tiger-striped frog (Hoplobatrachus rugulosus), otter (Lutra lutra), large Indian civet (Viverra zibetha), small Indian civet (Viverricula indica), masked palm civet (Paguma larvata), sambar deer (Rusa unicolor), gorals (Naemorhedus), Alpine musk deer (Moschus chrysogaster), and mandarin duck (Aix galericulata).

Birds of Prey and Other Notable Species: Barn owl (Tyto alba), various species of owls including the Eurasian eagle-owl (Bubo bubo), brown wood owl (Strix leptogrammica), short-eared owl (Asio flammeus), kestrel (Falco tinnunculus), red-footed falcon (Falco vespertinus), silver pheasant (Lophura nycthemera), northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis), white-crowned long-tailed pheasant (Syrmaticus reevesii), and the temminck’s tragopan (Tragopan temminckii). Additionally, Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus) is also among the notable species.

Provincial Key Protected Animals: Egret (Egretta), ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus), bamboo partridge (Bambusicola thoracicus), white-breasted waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus), spotted dove (Spilopelia chinensis), South China tiger (Panthera tigris amoyensis), oriental turtle dove (Streptopelia orientalis), grey heron (Ardea cinerea), cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis), and more. Additionally, species like the Chinese bamboo rat (Rhizomys sinensis), silver star bamboo rat (Rhizomys pruinosus), fox (Vulpes spp.), yellow-throated marten (Martes flavigula), raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides), leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis), various snakes, toads, and frogs—over 30 species in total—are included.