A 75-year-old American millionaire, known for hunting wild animals across continents, has died after a sudden encounter with a herd of elephants in Central Africa. Ernie Dosio, an experienced trophy hunter and vineyard owner from California, was on an expedition in Gabon when the incident occurred. While tracking a rare antelope in a dense forest, he and his professional guide unexpectedly come across a group of elephants. Within seconds, the situation turned fatal as the animals attacked, crushing Dosio and seriously injuring his guide.
How five elephants attacked a 75-year-old trophy hunter
The attack reportedly occurred in dense rainforest near Lop-Okanda National Park, where visibility is low and wildlife can appear without warning. Dosio and his guide were tracking the elusive yellow-backed duiker, a rare forest antelope, when they inadvertently walked into a herd of five forest elephants. Hidden by dense vegetation, the animals were not seen until it was too late.According to people familiar with the incident, the elephant, which was a female with a calf, reacted immediately and attacked as soon as it felt threatened.The professional hunter accompanying Dosio was attacked first, thrown aside and injured during the initial attack. In the confusion, he lost his rifle in the bushes, leaving Dosio with only one shotgun.The elephants then attacked Dosio and crushed him under their combined weight. The attack was believed to have been extremely swift, with little chance of survival once the herd got close.
Why can elephants become deadly?
The African forest elephant is one of the most powerful land animals on Earth, capable of weighing several tons and moving at astonishing speeds. Although often described as peaceful creatures, these animals can become highly aggressive when they feel threatened, especially when calves are present.Gabon is home to about 60 percent of the world’s remaining forest elephants, making encounters in its dense forests more likely. Experts estimate that elephants kill 300 to 500 people globally each year, usually in sudden, defensive attacks.
The experienced hunter kept an extensive collection of animal trophies in his California home.
a lifetime of hunting
Dosio had spent decades traveling around the world hunting for big game, amassing an extensive collection of trophies that included species of lion, elephant, buffalo and deer. He was widely known in hunting circles in both the United States and Africa and was considered an experienced outdoorsman.At the time of his death, he was reportedly attempting to add the yellow-backed duiker, a challenging and sought-after species among hunters, to his collection.Friends and associates described him as a larger-than-life personality who was also deeply involved in charitable work, regularly supporting veterans and disadvantaged groups.Safari operator Collect Africa confirmed that a client died after encountering an elephant during a hunt, while the injured guide survived.