a couple of elephants standing next to each other

American Hunter Killed by Elephants in Gabon

worldApr 27, 2026·338 words·3 min read

A 75-year-old American millionaire and avid big-game hunter has died after being trampled by a herd of forest elephants in Gabon, central Africa. Ernie Dosio, a Californian vineyard owner from Lodi, was stalking the elusive yellow-backed duiker, a small forest antelope, in the dense Lope-Okanda rainforest last Friday when he and his professional guide unexpectedly encountered five female elephants accompanied by a calf. Startled by the intrusion, the herd charged immediately.

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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