Tragic Death of California Hunter in Gabon Elephant Encounter

Incident Overview

A wealthy vineyard owner from California, Ernie Dosio, aged 75, tragically lost his life after being attacked by a herd of elephants during a hunting expedition in Gabon's remote rainforest. Dosio, who resided in Lodi, was pursuing yellow-backed duiker, a type of antelope, when he and his guide unexpectedly encountered five female forest elephants and a calf. The elephants, feeling threatened, charged at them, resulting in Dosio's death and severe injuries to his guide.

Details of the Incident

The safari company, Collect Africa, which arranged the hunting trip, confirmed the unfortunate incident. A retired game hunter from Cape Town, who was acquainted with Dosio, recounted the event, stating that the encounter was sudden and dangerous. He noted that Dosio was adhering to strict hunting regulations and was provided with a shotgun and cartridges by the hunting company for the trip, as he was not allowed to bring his own firearms.

"While I prefer not to elaborate, it’s reasonable to assume the incident was swift," the retired hunter remarked, expressing the profound impact of Dosio's death on many people across the Atlantic.

About Ernie Dosio

Dosio had a lifelong passion for hunting, amassing a significant collection of trophies from both Africa and the United States, including elephants and lions. He was a well-known and respected member of the Sacramento Safari Club. Friends described his hunting practices as ethical and compliant with conservation efforts aimed at managing wildlife populations.

In addition to his hunting pursuits, Dosio was a successful entrepreneur, owning Pacific AgriLands Inc., which managed 12,000 acres of vineyards and provided loans and management services to wine producers. He was also involved in charitable activities and was a member of the California Central District Elks, supporting various causes, including veterans' organizations. He lived with his partner, Betty, in a four-bedroom home and is survived by two children.

The Forest Elephants of Gabon

Gabon is home to approximately 95,000 forest elephants, a critically endangered species that constitutes about 60% of the global population of forest elephants, according to the WWF. The U.S. embassy in Gabon is currently coordinating the repatriation of Dosio's remains back to California.