California Vineyard Owner Dies in Elephant Incident in Gabon
A vineyard owner from California tragically lost his life after being crushed by an elephant during a hunting trip in Africa. Ernie Dosio, aged 75, was on a hunt for yellow duikers in Gabon when the incident occurred on April 17.
According to reports, Dosio was trampled when he and his guide inadvertently came across a group of five female elephants with their calves in the Lope Okanda rainforest. This information was shared by the Daily Mail.
The safari operator, Collect Africa, based in Nigeria, confirmed his death, as did the California-Hawaii Elk Association through a post on Facebook.
In a heartfelt statement, Tommy Whitman, Secretary of Lodi Lodge 1900 and Central District Scouting President, expressed deep sadness over Dosio’s passing, noting that he would be greatly missed by family and friends.
A longtime hunter, Dosio reportedly had an extensive collection of hunting trophies from both Africa and the United States. An unnamed hunter from Cape Town who was familiar with Dosio mentioned that he had been hunting for as long as he could remember.
It was noted that many people oppose big game hunting, but Dosio’s hunts were said to follow strict regulations and were recorded as conservation efforts aimed at managing animal populations. He had plans to hunt for dwarf forest buffalo and duikers, although strict licensing rules meant he could not use his own firearm during the expedition.
Following the incident, there’s speculation that Dosio and his guide might have startled the elephants, causing a defensive response from them.
This unfortunate event has reverberated across both the U.S. and Africa, as many who knew him have expressed their condolences. His body will be returned to the United States with help from the American Embassy.
Dosio was the owner of Pacific Agrilands Inc., which includes a vineyard management company along with a 12,000-acre vineyard located in Modesto, California.
Interestingly, the World Wildlife Fund estimates there are around 95,000 endangered forest elephants in Central Africa, with the largest numbers found in Gabon.
