Complex sentence: Of course, most charismatic megafauna had already been wiped out by the British in the 1800s; unsurprising, given the British penchant for'blood sport', especially among the soldiery.
Split into simpler sentences: Of course, most charismatic megafauna had already been wiped out by the British in the 1800s. Unsurprising, given the British penchant for'blood sport', especially among the soldiery.