A wealthy big-game hunter has died after being trampled by elephants during a hunting expedition in central Africa. Ernie Dosio, a 75-year-old American vineyard owner from Lodi, California, was searching for a rare species of antelope in the Lope-Okanda forest in Gabon when a herd of five elephants emerged and crushed him underfoot.
Incident Details
The incident occurred on 17 April, according to safari operator Collect Africa, which confirmed Mr Dosio's death. A professional hunter guiding Mr Dosio was also seriously injured. The team had been tracking a yellow-backed duiker, the largest of all duikers and one of the most heavily hunted species in West and Central Africa. The elephants, including a calf, were reportedly well-hidden in the surrounding undergrowth.
Background of the Hunter
Mr Dosio had collected an array of animal trophies over his lifetime, including rhinos, elephants, and lions. A friend stated that his excursions were “strictly licensed and above board and were registered as conservation in culling animal numbers.” Hunting brochures from Bobby Hansen Safaris show Mr Dosio posing with monster hogs, a Nile buffalo, an impala, a gazelle, and a slain lion. He was reportedly unsuccessful in hunting a leopard during the expedition.
Controversy Around Trophy Hunting
Trophy hunting remains a controversial practice, with campaign groups opposing it on animal welfare and environmental grounds. Some political parties, including those in the UK, have promised to ban imports but have been accused of delaying legislation. According to the Global Sanctuary for Elephants, between 300 and 500 people are killed annually in elephant attacks.
Gabon, an oil-rich former French colony, positions itself as a major advocate for conservation in central Africa, where wildlife has suffered from wars, habitat destruction, and the bushmeat trade.
