California Vineyard Owner Ernie Dosio Killed by Elephants During Gabon Hunting Trip

On 17 April 2024, 75-year-old Ernie Dosio was trampled to death after a herd of five female forest elephants and a calf charged his party while he pursued a yellow-backed duiker in Gabon’s Lopé-Okanda rainforest. The professional guide with him suffered serious injuries. Collect Africa, the safari operator, confirmed the death.

Patch

Dosio owned Pacific AgriLands Inc., a Lodi, California, farm-management firm overseeing about 12,000 acres of vineyards. He served on the Lodi Winegrape Commission and was a life member of California Wildfowl. Over decades he hunted elephants, lions, rhinos, buffalo and other species, building a large trophy collection. $40,000 guided hunt in Gabon reflects a broader debate: supporters claim regulated trophy hunting funds conservation, while critics argue it endangers wildlife and raises ethical concerns.

Newsweek

Collect Africa issued a statement confirming the client’s death and noting the guide’s injuries. The U.S. Embassy in Gabon said it is working with the family to return Dosio’s remains to California. No governmental comment was recorded.

Newsweek

Rinda Butler Dosio told the Daily Mail the family initially heard “different crazy things,” including buffalo reports. Jeff Dosio said media coverage of his father’s final moments had been “twisted” and “hasn’t been fun at all.” A retired game hunter in Cape Town called Dosio an “ethical” big-game hunter whose hunts were fully licensed.

Newsweek

Conservation groups argue trophy hunting can destabilize animal populations and raise ethical concerns, noting that legal permits do not resolve moral debates. Human-wildlife conflict, especially with elephants, is a growing conservation and humanitarian issue across Africa and Asia. Elephants are estimated to kill about 100 people globally each year (IERE).

Newsweek

Early coverage varied on the animal involved—some cited buffalo, later clarified as elephants. Sources differ on the guide’s fate; one account says he survived, another suggests he later died from injuries. The trip’s cost appears as $40,000 in some outlets and £30,000 in others. No comprehensive database tracks trophy-hunter fatalities.

LADbible

• “The day it happened we heard it was buffalos—and different crazy things,” — Rinda Butler Dosio, ex-wife

Newsweek

• “Whoever got all these pictures of our trophy room—I don't know how that came about at all.” — Jeff Dosio, son

Newsweek

• “Collect Africa confirmed the death of its client.” — Collect Africa, safari operator

Patch

The U.S. Embassy will continue repatriating Dosio’s remains. The incident has reignited debate over the safety and ethics of trophy hunting, prompting calls for stricter oversight of guided hunts in high-conflict wildlife zones. No formal investigation has been announced, but the case may influence future policy discussions on human-elephant interactions and hunting regulations.

Patch