Elephant’s revenge: Millionaire big-game hunter trampled to death
A millionaire big-game hunter was trampled to death by a group of five female elephants and a calf while on a hunting expedition.
The 75-year-old hunter, named Ernie Dosio, was on a mission to find a rare species of antelope in the Lope-Okanda forest in Gabon, central Africa, when he met his demise.
Dosio, who was a vineyard-owner in America, had killed rhinos, elephants, buffalo, leopards, lions, and more in his lifetime, and would often collect animal trophies to show off his hunting skills.
The incident, which took place on April 17th, also seriously injured a professional hunter who had been guiding Dosio on the search for a yellow-backed duiker. Dosio’s death was confirmed by safari operator Collect Africa, as per the Daily Mail.
Dosio’s guide was allegedly flung aside by the herd of elephants, who charged at the pair from startling proximity; they were so camouflaged the hunters didn’t spot them until it was too late.
The professional hunter had lost his rifle in the underbush, which left Dosio alone to defend himself with only a shotgun.
When asked to describe the incident, a retired hunter who knew Dosio shared, “‘I would rather not go into detail, but it is safe to assume it would have been quick.”
He added, “Ernie has been hunting since he could hold a rifle and has many trophies from Africa and the US. Although many disagree with big-game hunting, all Ernie’s hunts were strictly licensed and above board and were registered as conservation in culling animal numbers.”
Gabon’s forests are thought to shelter approximately 95,000 elephants, a species that is considered highly endangered across the globe.
According to the Global Sanctuary for Elephants, it is estimated that between 300 and 500 people are killed every year in elephant attacks.
Officials from the US embassy in Gabon are now coordinating the return of Dosio’s remains to California.