A similar fate befell the Sri Lankan elephants (elephas maximus maximus L.) 180 years ago, when Ceylon was a British colony. Elephants were regarded as vermin, even rewards paid for shooting them. It was common for British officers to shoot several hundred during their stay. One major even claimed 1600 kills. As tuskers were the preferred targets, selection favored tuskless individuals. Today only about 7% of the bulls, 2% of the total population bear tusks at all.