California millionaire trophy hunter, 75, trampled to death by elephants in Gabon

Vineyard owner Ernie Dosio, 75, was attacked by a herd of five elephants as he stalked through a thick forest in central Africa, with the animals ‘appearing as if from nowhere’ as they stampeded towards him

A millionaire trophy hunter met his death at the hands of five enraged elephants while pursuing antelope in the African wilderness.

Vineyard proprietor Ernie Dosio was trampled to death by the charging herd as he moved through dense forest in central Africa.

The 75 year old had amassed an extensive collection of exotic animal trophies throughout his home in Lodi, 30 miles south of Sacramento, California, featuring elephant, rhino, bear, buffalo, crocodile, lion, zebra and leopard. Dosio had also hunted and killed nearly every species of deer in the US, including elk, moose and reindeer, which adorned the walls of his private entertainment spaces.

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Dosio’s fatal encounter occurred on April 17 when the experienced hunter was ambushed by a group of elephants as he pursued a small forest antelope in Gabon’s Lope region. The expedition was targeting a £30,000 opportunity to shoot the rare and elusive yellow backed duiker.

The father-of-two, who possessed a licence permitting him to hunt dwarf forest buffalo in Gabon, but was restricted to a shotgun for the deer expedition, had minimal defense against the five-strong herd protecting a young calf, reports the Mirror.

African elephants are the planet’s largest living land mammals, with females reaching heights of 12 feet and weighing nearly four tons. They can also achieve speeds of up to 25mph when charging.

The elephants were concealed in the thick vegetation at the time, and emerged “as if from nowhere”. Dosio’s shotgun was flung aside as the alarmed herd turned on him and his professional hunter. While the hunter sustained serious injuries and lost his firearm in the dense undergrowth during the assault, Dosio was viciously trampled to death.

His remains are currently being repatriated by the US Embassy in Gabon to Lodi, California. He leaves behind his long-term partner, Betty, and two children.

Dosio owned Pacific AgriLands Inc, which operates its own 12,000-acre vineyard in Modesto but focuses on providing management services for regional wine farms. His son, Jeff, serves as President of the company, which produces 40 percent of California’s wines. His other son, Blake, is a farmer who reportedly also contributed to the family enterprise. The company provides support to most area vineyards, including the renowned EandJ Gallo wines.

A retired game hunter in Cape Town who was acquainted with the victim said: “Ernie has been hunting since he could hold a rifle and has many trophies from Africa and the US.

“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.

“Ernie had booked a hunt for dwarf forest buffalo and duikers, in particular the yellow backed duiker, and under strict licensing laws he could not take along his own guns.

“The hunting company would supply a shotgun and cartridges for the duiker hunt.

“Whilst in the forest Ernie and his PH (professional hunter) surprised 5 forest elephant cows with young and feeling under threat the elephants immediately attacked them.

“The professional hunter was attacked first and seriously injured losing his rifle which was knocked from him and lost in the undergrowth leaving Ernie with his shotgun.

“I would rather not go into detail but it is safe to assume it would have been quick.

“Ernie was a very well-known and popular hunter in the US and in Africa and a very keen conservationist and he did a hell of a lot of charity work and was a really good guy.

“What happened has been deeply felt by many each side of the Atlantic” he said.

Safari operator Collect Africa also verified the tragic death of a client on April 17 through a short statement, revealing that he and the professional hunter had come across five elephant cows and a calf while pursuing a yellow backed duiker.

Ernie held lifetime membership in the hunting organization California Wildfowl and was a prominent figure in the Sacramento Safari Club. He also served as Great Elk in the Californian Central District Elks, a charitable organization of patriotic Americans recognized for backing philanthropic initiatives including military veterans, youth scholarships and disaster relief.

Lodi Lodge secretary Tommy Whitman shared in a Facebook statement yesterday: “It is with a most heavy heart and sadness that I am reporting the passing of Ernio Dosio.

“May all of our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and loved ones. Ernie was Great Elk for 30 years and a pillar in our community who will be sorely missed”.

He continued: “Ernie always had his hand in his pocket and would help out those who needed it be it war veterans or handicapped or underprivileged kids.

“He would never want recognition but he was always there with a loving heart.

“Ernie’s passion was hunting and he spent much of his time either hunting here in the USA or in Africa and most of his trophies are on display at his own trophy rooms.

“He will be really missed around here and was one of the real good guys” he said.

A spokesperson from Pacific AgriLand Inc stated: “Nobody here at present is available to speak. That has to be down to his son Jeff when he is ready to say something to you.

“Ernie was very popular and Jeff is taking many calls as you can well imagine. It is a huge tragedy” she said.

A close family friend revealed: “Ernie would hold a charity function there every month where food was served to members of the Elk lodges and upstanding citizens of the community.

“There would be judges, advocates and the heads of the local vineyards and big noises from industry and commerce and it was where all the local networking was done.

“It was always a huge fundraiser with money raised going to help those who needed it.

“Ernie with his big moustache was larger than life but did not show it off although he had money he was not one for the big house or fancy cars or the jet-set lifestyle.

“He was a just a farmer and good old country boy who loved to hunt and fish. There are not many in the US today who would have a trophy collection to match Ernie’s.

“The news of his death in Africa was like a bomb going off here. It has been said the elephants came out of nowhere. One thing is for sure he will get a huge send off.”