American man trampled to death on big game hunt in Africa
A wealthy American hunter has died after being attacked by a group of elephants during a hunting trip in central Africa.
Ernie Dosio, 75, a vineyard owner from California, was fatally injured in the incident, which occurred in dense forest in Gabon.
He had been on a guided expedition in search of a rare forest antelope, accompanied by a professional hunting guide at the time.
Over the years, he had taken part in hunting expeditions across Africa, targeting species including elephant, leopard, rhino, buffalo, and lion. In the United States, he had also hunted a wide range of wild deer.
Pic: Guillem Sartorio/Bloomberg via Getty Images
However, the incident occurred last Friday in the Lopé-Okanda rainforest, when the hunting party encountered a group of elephants, including several females and a calf.
African elephants are the largest land animals on Earth, with females capable of reaching significant size and speed.
According to reports, the group was taken by surprise when the elephants suddenly emerged from dense vegetation. The animals then charged, and the guide accompanying Mr. Dosio was knocked aside during the encounter.
Mr. Dosio was seriously injured and lost his firearm in dense undergrowth as the elephants charged. He was subsequently killed in the attack.
Pic: Getty Images
A retired hunter in South Africa who knew him said Mr. Dosio had decades of experience, having taken part in licensed hunting expeditions across Africa and the United States.
He said, ‘While opinions differ on big-game hunting, all of Ernie’s trips were conducted under strict regulations and were legally sanctioned,’ he said, adding that such hunts are often linked to wildlife management programmes.
The safari operator, Collect Africa, confirmed that a client was killed on April 17 after an encounter with elephants during a hunt in central Gabon. It said the guide was injured and the matter is being handled by the family and the US Embassy.
Gabon is home to one of the largest populations of forest elephants, with vast areas of dense rainforest covering much of the country.
Mr Dosio, from California, was a vineyard owner and long-time member of several hunting and conservation organisations. He is survived by his family, who are being supported as arrangements are made to return his remains to the United States.
Tributes from community groups described him as a prominent local figure known for his charitable work and long-standing involvement in regional organisations.
