Common Waterbuck

There are two types of waterbuck: the common waterbuck and the defassa waterbuck. They can be distinguished by their rump patterns. The common waterbuck has a prominent white ring around its dark rump, while the defassa waterbuck has wide white patches on either side of its rump. They are water dependent and are found close to water sources. Only the common waterbuck is in South Africa, and only male waterbucks have horns.

The common waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus ellipsiprymnus) is listed as Least Concern in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (2016) with a current population trend that is decreasing. However, the defassa waterbuck (K. ellipsiprymnus defassa) is listed as Near Threatened (2016) with a current population trend that also is decreasing.

Whether we and our politicians know it or not, Nature is party to all our deals and decisions, and she has more votes, a longer memory, and a sterner sense of justice than we do.

—Wendell Berry, conservationist, farmer, essayist, novelist, professor of English and poet