Male and females defassa waterbuck on the Kibirizi plains, Virunga National Park, Congo (Democratic Republic)

Waterbucks have to stay within several miles of water so that they can easily drink every day or every two days. Having a preference for grasslands, waterbucks graze on firm ground generally found next to woodlands. Waterbucks are sedentary and territorial. This, however, is atypical, because bachelor herds are widely accepted among other male and female herds. Territorial males often allow other adult males into their territory as long as those males will leave after a short period of time. Typical herds range from 5-10 to 70 members. Researchers believe that waterbucks are basically independent, but happen to share the same home range with many others. Waterbucks lack speed and endurance, so they rely on bushes or wooded areas for protection from predators. This photograph was taken when Eliot Elisofon was on assignment for National Geographic and traveled to Africa from January 19, 1972 to mid April 1972.