A millionaire American hunter has died following a sudden and violent encounter that turned the tables during a hunting expedition.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Ernie Dosio – a 75-year-old California vineyard owner and experienced big game hunter – passed away after being trampled by a herd of elephants while on an expedition in Gabon, The Independent reports.
What began as a planned hunt quickly descended into chaos when he and his guide unknowingly walked into close range of a group of elephants hidden within dense forest. The pair had been tracking a yellow-backed duiker — a rare, forest-dwelling antelope known for its elusive nature — when the situation spiralled.
“Whilst in the forest, Ernie and his (guide) surprised five forest elephant cows with a calf. Feeling under threat, the elephants immediately attacked them,” an ex-game hunter who knew Dosio told the New York Post.
In thick rainforest terrain, visibility is often limited, and even animals of enormous size can go undetected until it’s too late. That’s believed to be what happened here. According to Dosio’s friend, the elephants were concealed by dense vegetation, leaving Dosio and his guide with little time to react once the animals charged.
They “appeared from nowhere”.
The guide was flung aside in the chaos, losing his rifle and sustaining serious injuries. Dosio, armed only with a shotgun, was unable to escape as the elephants stampeded over him.
“I would rather not go into detail, but it is safe to assume that it would have been quick,” a friend told the Daily Mail.
Dosio had travelled to Gabon on what was reportedly a $40,000 hunting trip, targeting the yellow-backed duiker — the largest species of its kind and one of the most heavily hunted across forests in West and Central Africa. Known for their tendency to sprint blindly when startled, duikers are notoriously difficult to track.
But this time, the hunter became the hunted.
Dosio, who owned a winery in California’s Central Valley, had built a reputation as a passionate outdoorsman. Over the years, he amassed an extensive collection of trophies from hunts across Africa and the United States. Reports claim his trophy room features animals such as a lion, elephant, rhinoceros, buffalo, crocodile, zebra and leopard — a reflection of decades spent pursuing big game.
“Ernie has been hunting since he could hold a rifle and has many trophies from Africa and the US,” the acquaintance explained, adding that he was “very well-known and popular” within hunting circles.
Despite the controversy that often surrounds trophy hunting, those close to Dosio were quick to emphasise that his expeditions followed legal frameworks.
“Although many disagree with big-game hunting, all Ernie’s hunts were strictly licensed and above board and were registered as conservation in culling animal numbers,” the fellow game hunter explained to The Mail.
That perspective, however, sits within a broader and ongoing global debate. Trophy hunting continues to divide opinion, with critics raising concerns over animal welfare and environmental impact, while supporters argue it can contribute to conservation efforts when regulated.
The setting of the incident adds further context. Gabon, known for its vast, dense forests, is home to tens of thousands of African forest elephants — a species currently classified as critically endangered. These environments, while rich in biodiversity, also present significant risks due to limited visibility and unpredictable wildlife encounters.
Elephants, the largest land animals on Earth, can weigh up to 6,000kg and stand around 9 feet tall. When threatened — particularly in the presence of a calf — they can react with overwhelming force.
Statistics suggest that between 300 and 500 people are killed each year in elephant attacks globally, underlining the dangers of close proximity to these animals in the wild.
Back in the United States, tributes have begun to emerge.
“It is with a most heavy heart and sadness that I am reporting the passing of Ernie Dosio earlier this week,” Elks Lodi Lodge secretary Tommy Whitman said, per 9News. “May all of our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and loved ones.
“He will be sorely missed.”
Meanwhile, Dosio’s son has hit out at “twisted” reports about his father’s death.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, Jeff Dosio said in a statement: “It hasn’t been fun. It hasn’t been fun at all. Whoever got all these pictures of our trophy room – I don’t know how that came about at all.”
“I want to set the record straight with my sincerity at the bottom of it and my statement,” he added, with the Mail claiming that “more information is set to emerge about what really happened”.
“The day it happened, we heard it was buffalo — and different crazy things,” Rinda Butler Dose – Ernie’s ex-wife – revealed to the Daily Mail. “The lawyers got called before the family.”
She added that “[there are] just some things that just don’t make sense” about her ex-husband’s passing.
“It’s a huge shock. He was a big-time hunter, and it shouldn’t have happened. He and another man [were] killed,” she added.
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