Reedbuck occur in all of the countries neighbouring the Caprivi (Angola, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe). The IUCN Antelope Specialist Group (ASG 1998) state that reedbuck continue to survive in low numbers throughout their original range in Angola and that, despite heavy illegal hunting, they are still present in reasonable numbers in the south-western corner of Zambia. In Zimbabwe, the species is absent from parts of the northern border ith Botswana although it occurs nearby in several areas. In Botswana, reedbuck occur throughout the Okavango Delta, and in smaller numbers along Kwando, Linyanti and Chobe Rivers ( Table 7).

Waterbuck also occur in all of the countries neighbouring the Caprivi. The subspecies Kobus ellipsiprymnus defassa occurs in southern Angola (Figure 2) and, although small populations remained in Kangandala and Bikuar national parks and the Luando reserve in the 1970s, it is now like to be on the verge of extinction (ASG 1998). Zambia holds both subspecies (Figure 2) and until recent times waterbuck were fairly abundant. It survives now almost entirely in protected areas and numbers are low in the southwestern corner of the country adjacent to the Caprivi. In the north-west of Zimbabwe it is relatively abundant. In Botswana, the highest concentrations of waterbuck are in the Okavango Delta, but they are also relatively common on the Chobe, Kwando and Linyanti Rivers (Table 7). ULG (1995) detected no trends in the population but observe that more waterbuck were seen in the mid-1990s than in earlier years. Lechwe occur in Angola, Zambia and Botswana but are absent from Zimbabwe. ASG (1998) state that numbers are severely reduced in Angola but that it survives in the extreme south-east of the country. Red Lechwe occur in Zambia on the upper Zambezi and the Kafue floodplains. Although the Kafue population is healthy, serious declines have taken place in the south-west of the country. Botswana has the largest population of red lechwe on the continent - around 70,000 (ASG 1998). ULG (1995) note that the population has been declining since 1990 at rate of 6.3%/annum and this trend coincides with the deficit in the cumulative rainfall (Figure 19).

Puku populations are in a parlous condition in the all of the countries participating in the 'Four Corners' transfrontier initiative. They no longer occur in the north-west of Zimbabwe and ASG (1998) do not show their present range as extending into the south-west of Zambia. ULG (1995) do not mention puku amongst the species surveyed from 1990-1995 in Botswana. In 1996 less than 100 individuals were estimated on the southern bank of the Chobe River (Child & von Richter 1969).

Data Quality and Interpretation

The wildlife authorities in Botswana have systematically carried out nation-wide aerial surveys of large mammals in both dry and wet seasons for most years since 1987. ULG (1995) produced pooled estimates of the northern Botswana reedbuck, waterbuck and lechwe populations over the years from 1987-1995 which are shown, together with the estimates for the Caprivi in 1994 when the last comprehensive survey was done (Table 7).

This estimate is from ASG (1998). At one time puku were extremely common along the Chobe - Selous (1928) observed large numbers along a stretch of some 70 miles along the Chobe from the Chobe-Zambezi confluence. Groups of 50 were frequent.