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, a seasoned trophy hunter and vineyard owner from California, was on an expedition in Gabon when the incident occurred.
While tracking a rare antelope through dense forest, he and his professional guide unexpectedly came face to face with a group of elephants. The situation quickly turned fatal as the animals charged, leaving Dosio dead and his guide seriously injured.
How the attack unfolded
The incident took place in thick rainforest near Lope-Okanda National Park, where visibility is limited and wildlife encounters can happen without warning.
Dosio and his guide were tracking the yellow-backed duiker, a rare forest antelope, when they unknowingly walked into a herd of five African forest elephants. Hidden by dense vegetation, the animals were not visible until they were at very close range.
The elephants—believed to include females with a calf—reacted defensively and charged. The guide was struck first, thrown aside, and injured during the initial charge, reportedly losing his rifle in the process.
Moments later, the elephants turned on Dosio, trampling him under their combined weight. The attack is believed to have been extremely rapid, leaving little opportunity to escape.
Why elephant encounters can turn deadly
The African forest elephant is among the most powerful land animals, capable of immense strength and surprising speed. Though generally calm, they can become highly aggressive if they perceive a threat—particularly when protecting their young.
Gabon is home to an estimated 60% of the world’s remaining forest elephant population, increasing the likelihood of such encounters in its dense forests. Experts estimate that elephants are responsible for hundreds of human fatalities globally each year, typically in sudden defensive incidents.
A lifetime of big-game hunting
Dosio had spent decades travelling globally in pursuit of big game, building a collection that reportedly included lions, elephants, buffalo, and various deer species. He was well known in hunting circles in both the United States and Africa and was regarded as an experienced outdoorsman.
At the time of the incident, he was reportedly attempting to add the yellow-backed duiker to his collection—a species considered particularly challenging to track.
Safari operator Collect Africa confirmed that a client had died following an elephant encounter during a hunt, while the injured guide survived.
