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Millionaire trophy hunter, 75, trampled to death by angry elephants during African hunt
Olivia Bridge Reporter in Live News Network
11:07, 24 Apr 2026Updated 15:39, 24 Apr 2026
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Ernie Dosio's home was decorated with mounts of exotic animal heads(Image: bobbyhansensafaris.com)
A millionaire trophy hunter has been killed by a herd of five angry elephants while hunting antelope.
Vineyard owner Ernie Dosio was trampled to death by the stampede as he stalked through a thick forest in central Africa.
The 75-year-old displayed a vast collection of exotic animal heads across trophy rooms in his home in Lodi, 30 miles south of Sacramento, California, including elephant, rhino, bear, buffalo, crocodile, lion, zebra and leopard. Dosio also shot and killed almost every species of buck in the US, including elk, moose and reindeer, which are also mounted to the walls of his private function rooms.
Dosio met his demise on April 17 when the veteran hunter was ambushed by a herd of elephants as he hunted a small forest antelope in the Lope area of Gabon. The hunt was on for a £30,000 shot at the secretive and elusive yellow backed duiker.
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The hunter had a huge collection of exotic animal heads(Image: Bobby Hansen Hunting Safaris)
The father-of-two, who had a licence which allowed him to hunt dwarf forest buffalo in Gabon, but was only permitted a shotgun for the deer hunt, stood little chance against the herd of five as they guarded a young calf.
African elephants are the world's largest living land animal, with females standing as high as 12 feet tall and weighing nearly four tons. They can also reach speeds of up to 25mph in a charge.
The elephants were well hidden in the dense undergrowth at the time, and appeared "as if from nowhere".
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African elephants can reach speeds of 25mph(Image: Getty Images)
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Dosio's shotgun was cast aside as the startled herd turned on him and his professional hunter. While the hunter was left seriously injured and lost his weapon in the thick bush during the attack, Dosio was brutally trampled underfoot and killed.
His body is now in the process of being repatriated by the US Embassy in Gabon to Lodi in California. He is survived by his long-term partner, Betty, and two children.
Dosio was the owner of the Pacific AgriLands Inc which has its own 12,000 acre vineyard in Modesto but specialises in providing management for local wine farms. His son, Jeff, is President of the company which produces 40 percent of Californian wines. His other son, Blake, is a farmer and reportedly also worked in the family business. The company supports most local vineyards, including the famous E&J Gallo wines.
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Ernie Dosio has been described as a "really nice guy" in tributes(Image: bobbyhansensafaris.com)
A retired game hunter in Cape Town who knows the victim said: “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.
Article continues below
138205441702
“Ernie had booked a hunt for dwarf forest buffalo and duikers, in particular the yellow backed duiker, and under strict licensing laws he could not take along his own guns.
“The hunting company would supply a shotgun and cartridges for the duiker hunt.
“Whilst in the forest Ernie and his PH (professional hunter) surprised 5 forest elephant cows with young and feeling under threat the elephants immediately attacked them.
Ernie Dosio's home was decorated with mounts of exotic animal heads but was killed in a stampede of angry elephants earlier this month while stalking a rare deer in Africa
Olivia Bridge Reporter in Live News Network
11:07, 24 Apr 2026Updated 15:39, 24 Apr 2026
View 9 Images
Ernie Dosio's home was decorated with mounts of exotic animal heads(Image: bobbyhansensafaris.com)
A millionaire trophy hunter has been killed by a herd of five angry elephants while hunting antelope.
Vineyard owner Ernie Dosio was trampled to death by the stampede as he stalked through a thick forest in central Africa.
The 75-year-old displayed a vast collection of exotic animal heads across trophy rooms in his home in Lodi, 30 miles south of Sacramento, California, including elephant, rhino, bear, buffalo, crocodile, lion, zebra and leopard. Dosio also shot and killed almost every species of buck in the US, including elk, moose and reindeer, which are also mounted to the walls of his private function rooms.
Dosio met his demise on April 17 when the veteran hunter was ambushed by a herd of elephants as he hunted a small forest antelope in the Lope area of Gabon. The hunt was on for a £30,000 shot at the secretive and elusive yellow backed duiker.
Neighbour row as man confronts people putting St George's flag up outside his home
Armed police swarm UK college amid lockdown as people warned 'stay out of sight'
View 9 Images
The hunter had a huge collection of exotic animal heads(Image: Bobby Hansen Hunting Safaris)
The father-of-two, who had a licence which allowed him to hunt dwarf forest buffalo in Gabon, but was only permitted a shotgun for the deer hunt, stood little chance against the herd of five as they guarded a young calf.
African elephants are the world's largest living land animal, with females standing as high as 12 feet tall and weighing nearly four tons. They can also reach speeds of up to 25mph in a charge.
The elephants were well hidden in the dense undergrowth at the time, and appeared "as if from nowhere".
View 9 Images
African elephants can reach speeds of 25mph(Image: Getty Images)
Article continues below
138525544453
Dosio's shotgun was cast aside as the startled herd turned on him and his professional hunter. While the hunter was left seriously injured and lost his weapon in the thick bush during the attack, Dosio was brutally trampled underfoot and killed.
His body is now in the process of being repatriated by the US Embassy in Gabon to Lodi in California. He is survived by his long-term partner, Betty, and two children.
Dosio was the owner of the Pacific AgriLands Inc which has its own 12,000 acre vineyard in Modesto but specialises in providing management for local wine farms. His son, Jeff, is President of the company which produces 40 percent of Californian wines. His other son, Blake, is a farmer and reportedly also worked in the family business. The company supports most local vineyards, including the famous E&J Gallo wines.
Article continues below
138205441702
View 9 Images
Ernie Dosio has been described as a "really nice guy" in tributes(Image: bobbyhansensafaris.com)
A retired game hunter in Cape Town who knows the victim said: “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.
Article continues below
138205441702
“Ernie had booked a hunt for dwarf forest buffalo and duikers, in particular the yellow backed duiker, and under strict licensing laws he could not take along his own guns.
“The hunting company would supply a shotgun and cartridges for the duiker hunt.
“Whilst in the forest Ernie and his PH (professional hunter) surprised 5 forest elephant cows with young and feeling under threat the elephants immediately attacked them.
