Summary (tl;dr)

Ernie Dosio, a 75-year-old millionaire big-game hunter from California, was tragically trampled to death by a herd of elephants during a hunting expedition in Gabon, Africa, while reportedly stalking an antelope.

Essential Background

Ernie Dosio was a prominent Central Valley agricultural leader and well-known big-game hunter with decades of experience on expeditions in Africa and the United States. He owned Pacific AgriLands Inc., a vineyard business based in Modesto, California, and was known for his extensive collection of hunting trophies, including elephants and lions. While his hunting activities were reportedly strictly licensed and deemed "above board," the practice of big-game hunting remains a contentious topic globally, with proponents often arguing its role in conservation through culling animal numbers.

The Full Story

On April 17, during a hunting trip valued at approximately $40,000 in Gabon's Lope-Okanda rainforest, Dosio and his professional guide were hunting for a yellow-backed duiker, a rare forest antelope. They unexpectedly encountered a group of five female forest elephants with a calf. Feeling threatened, the elephants immediately charged. Dosio, who was armed with a shotgun provided by the safari company as he was not permitted to bring his own guns, was fatally trampled by the herd. His guide sustained serious injuries and lost his rifle during the attack. Safari operator Collect Africa confirmed the incident, and the U.S. Embassy in Gabon is currently coordinating the repatriation of Dosio's body to California.

Why It Matters

The death of Ernie Dosio has drawn significant public attention and reignited the global debate surrounding big-game trophy hunting. The incident highlights the inherent dangers involved in such expeditions and sparks renewed discussions on the ethics of hunting endangered or threatened species, even when licensed. While those who knew Dosio described him as a "conservationist" and noted his charity work, the event has elicited strong reactions, including "schadenfreude" on social media, underscoring the deep divisions in public opinion regarding trophy hunting and its impact on wildlife populations.

Geographic Location

• Lope-Okanda rainforest, Gabon, Central Africa (hunting incident and death)
• Gabon, Central Africa (hunting expedition, US Embassy handling repatriation)
• Lodi, San Joaquin County, California, United States (Dosio's home, body repatriation destination)
• Modesto, Stanislaus County, California, United States (location of Dosio's company, Pacific AgriLands Inc.)