Ernie Dosio, a 75-year-old American millionaire and vineyard owner, died after being crushed by a group of elephants in the Lop-Okanda rainforest. While hunting the yellow-backed duiker, Dosio and his guide unexpectedly encounter five female elephants and a calf, leading to a fatal confrontation.
As reported daily MailSafari operator Collect Africa confirmed Dosio’s death and said his professional guide suffered serious injuries during the encounter. While in the Lop-Okanda rainforest, he and his guide unexpectedly encountered five female elephants with a calf. Safari operator Collect Africa confirmed the actual cause of death of its customer, reports the Daily Mail.
The company has reportedly clarified that the professional hunter is guiding Dosio regarding the injuries sustained during the encounter. Reflecting on Dosio’s life, a retired hunter who knew him shared with the UK outlet: “Ernie has been hunting since he could hold a rifle and has many trophies from Africa and America.
Although many disagree with big game hunting, all of Ernie’s hunts were strictly licensed and registered as conservation efforts to reduce the numbers of the animals.
It is pertinent to note that the forests of Gabon are famous for harboring approximately 95,000 forest elephants, which are considered highly endangered. The clients of the trophy-hunting industry claim the lives of thousands of wild animals around the world.
On the other hand, legal hunting trips to Africa remain popular among some wealthy Americans, including Donald Trump Jr., who was photographed holding a severed elephant tail more than a decade ago.
Data indicates that the value of the industry in South Africa ranges from $100m in 2005 to $2.5 billion in 2025, according to the EMS Foundation.
During his first term, Donald Trump established a controversial advisory board aimed at easing federal regulations for importing trophy animal parts into the US.
The board was shut down in 2020 after lawsuits claimed the panel was illegal and biased because it was composed of trophy hunters rather than conservationists.
Critics argue that the board focused on the economic benefits of big game hunting rather than actual wildlife conservation.
Nonetheless, the text notes that these hunting expeditions carry significant risks, citing an incident from last year where another American hunter was killed while pursuing buffalo in South Africa.
