California Vineyard Owner Killed by Elephants During Gabon Hunting Trip

On April 17, 75-year-old Ernie Dosio, a California vineyard owner, was killed after a herd of forest elephants charged him and his guide in Gabon’s Lopé-Okanda rainforest. The party was hunting a yellow-backed duiker on a $40,000 guided safari. Five adult female elephants and a calf trampled Dosio; the guide survived with serious injuries.

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Dosio owned Pacific AgriLands, a farm-management firm that runs a 12,000-acre vineyard in Modesto, producing roughly 40 % of California’s wine output. He sat on the Lodi Winegrape Commission and was a lifetime member of the California Wildfowl organization. His home displayed trophies of elephants, rhinos, lions, buffalo, crocodiles, zebras and leopards.

Sacramento Bee

Relatives received conflicting reports. Initial notices called the attack a buffalo incident, later corrected to elephants. Ex-wife Rinda Butler Dosio said attorneys were contacted before family and claimed the guide died, while Collect Africa said the guide survived with injuries. She said there were many conflicting details and that information was being exaggerated.

Sacramento Bee

Collect Africa confirmed Dosio’s death, stating the party had surprised five forest elephant cows with a calf before the herd charged. The U.S. Embassy in Gabon is arranging repatriation of his remains to California. A friend described the attack as swift, noting the guide was separated from his rifle, leaving Dosio with only a shotgun for small game.

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The incident sparked a polarized online debate. Comedian Ricky Gervais posted a comment that the incident would not be forgotten, prompting backlash from supporters who argue licensed hunting can aid wildlife population management. Others defended Dosio’s practices, citing his charitable work and legal permits. Critics emphasized ethical concerns about trophy hunting and its impact on conservation.

Sacramento Bee

• “There’s so many different things that are going around. Everything gets kind of exaggerated,” — Rinda Butler Dosio, ex-wife

Sacramento Bee

• “It hasn’t been fun. It hasn’t been fun at all. Whoever got all these pictures of our trophy room - I don’t know how that came about at all,” — Jeff Dosio, son

Sacramento Bee

• “Ernie always had his hand in his pocket and would help out those who needed it be it war veterans or handicapped or underprivileged kids,” — Tommy Whitman, secretary of the Lodi Elks Lodge

Sacramento Bee

• “The best thing is, they’ll never forget it.” — Ricky Gervais, comedian

Sacramento Bee

U.S. officials are arranging the transport of Dosio’s body to California. The incident continues to fuel debate over big-game hunting’s role in wildlife management.

Elephant Kills Attacker Who Broke Into His Home