a couple of elephants standing next to each other

American Hunter Killed by Elephants in Gabon

worldApr 27, 2026·277 words·3 min read

A 75-year-old American hunter has died after being attacked by forest elephants in Gabon, central Africa. Ernie Dosio, a wealthy vineyard owner from California, was hunting a small antelope called the yellow-backed duiker last Friday in the Lope-Okanda rainforest. He was with a professional guide when they suddenly met five female elephants and a calf. The animals felt threatened and charged at them.

Dosio paid about $40,000 for the hunt. A company called Collect Africa organised the trip. He had hunted big animals for many years across Africa. Friends said his hunts were legal and helped control animal numbers. But many wildlife experts disagree. Gabon has about 95,000 forest elephants — the largest group in the world. These elephants are critically endangered. Wildlife groups say rich hunters threaten them.

The American government is helping to send Dosio's body home to California. He leaves behind a partner, two sons, and a large family business. Friends in his hunting club have shared sad messages about him. Dosio's death is not the first this year. In 2025, another American hunter was killed by a buffalo in South Africa.

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