The observations here are limited to those behavioural attributes which have implications for management such as social organisation, territoriality and intra-specific aggression.

Waterbuck, lechwe and puku all exhibit territoriality during breeding season but do not continue to maintain territories outside of this. Male reedbuck, on the other hand, tend to maintain territories throughout the year, defending their females against intruders. The territorial behaviour and habitat preferences of all four species are often forced to give way to force majeur in environmental conditions.

Reedbuck are not gregarious like the other species and exist as single individuals and small nuclear family units (up to 5-6 animals). Their spatial distribution is very much determined by the availablity of suitable cover and surface water. When environmental conditions change (e.g. when fire destroys their cover and food) groups may be forced to relocate and become vulnerable.

Waterbuck are gregarious and their social organisation consists of herd males, nursery herds, and bachelor groups. They have a strong tendency to segregate into male and female herds from an early age. Herd sizes vary from 6-20 (or more), with a single herd male. The herd sizes tend to fluctuate according to availability of resources. In the breeding season, the home ranges occupied by nursery herds may overlap with several male territories – which are relatively small (seldom larger than 1-5km2). Wherever waterbuck occur, they tend to be resident and not given to migrations or major movements as lechwe are.

Lechwe form large herds when resources are abundant and groups of up to 400 are common on the Chobe floodplains (Child and von Richter 1969). The herds are loose associations, often in a continuous state of flux. The social organisation consists of herd males, bachelor groups and nursery herds. Males tend to exhibit territorial behaviour for a short period of about two weeks each year in October and the territories are small (<1km2).

They undertake seasonal movements between the Caprivi and Botswana floodplains. Child and von Richter (1969) observed that their numbers reached a peak in the Caprivi in April-May of each year and, in Botswana, in November. To a large extent, both the distances and timing of their movements are influenced by the extent of flooding in any particular year and they tend to move ahead of rising water. This pattern of seasonal movement provides a strong reason for trans-boundary cooperation between Botswana and Namibia.

Lechwe tend to be heavily preyed upon by lions and leopards.

Puku form herds of up to 50 animals but groups of 5-6 are commonest. There is some some fluidity in these associations and they are often found in the company of lechwe, waterbuck and impala. Child and von Richter (1969) observed an orderly pattern of puku territories on the Chobe floodplains. These territories were maintained for up two months of the year and female herds moved through the territories of several different males.

Like waterbuck, puku tend to be resident wherever they occur. Child and von Richter (1969) observed that the populations on the Chobe-Linyanti-Kwando floodplains undertook very limited local movements within the narrow ecological band that forms Puku habitat (Figure 3). Amongst the four wetland grazer species in this study, puku seem to be the most cicumscribed in their niche and, hence, must be considered vulnerable to both illegal hunting and enivironmental factors.