Big-Game Hunter Killed by Elephants Was a ‘Very Keen Conservationist’ and Wine Mogul
Ernie Dosio, a 75-year-old California vineyard owner and longtime big game hunter, was trampled to death by a herd of elephants during a hunting trip in Gabon, Central Africa.
The April 17 incident in the Lopé-Okanda region has drawn international attention — and fierce debate — as conflicting accounts of the attack and photos of Dosio’s trophy room circulated online.
Dosio was on a $40,000 hunt for a yellow-backed duiker when five forest elephant cows with a calf charged him and his professional guide.
Here’s what is known so far about the attack, the man behind the headlines and the conversation his death has ignited.
How Ernie Dosio Was Killed by a Herd of Elephants
Dosio and his professional guide were moving through a rainforest in Gabon’s Lopé-Okanda region on April 17 when they surprised the elephants. The encounter turned deadly within moments.
The guide was reportedly struck first and separated from his rifle, leaving Dosio exposed with only a shotgun intended for smaller game, according to The Daily Mail.
Collect Africa, the safari company behind the tour, confirmed Dosio’s death in a statement shared by The Daily Mail.
“Whilst in the forest, Ernie and his [guide] surprised five forest elephant cows with a calf. Feeling under threat, the elephants immediately attacked them,” Dosio’s friend told the New York Post.
“I would rather not go into detail, but it is safe to assume it would have been quick,” the friend said.
The American Embassy in Gabon is now coordinating the return of Dosio’s body to California.
Conflicting Accounts of Ernie Dosio’s Death
Initial accounts of the attack given to Dosio’s relatives were contradictory, compounding grief with confusion for his family. One early report incorrectly identified buffalo as the cause of death rather than elephants. Dosio’s ex-wife, Rinda Butler Dosio, told The Daily Mail that family attorneys received word of the death before family members were even notified.
She also claimed the professional guide died in the attack, though Collect Africa’s official account says the guide survived with serious injuries.
“There’s so many different things that are going around. Everything gets kind of exaggerated,” Butler Dosio told The Daily Mail.
“The day it happened we heard it was buffalos - and different crazy things. The lawyers got called before the family. There’s just some things that just don’t make sense,” she added.
Ernie Dosio Was a Big-Game Hunter With a Trophy Room
Dosio began hunting at a very young age and pursued game across both Africa and the United States over the course of his life. According to the New York Post, he shot and killed an elephant in Botswana more than a decade ago.
Photos of Dosio’s trophy room at his home were published by the New York Post and The Daily Mail, and drew widespread attention.
The room displayed trophies including an elephant, rhino and lion. A buffalo, crocodile, zebra and leopard were also among the mounts.
One of his sons, Jeff Dosio, described the incident as “twisted” and objected to how his father’s death has been portrayed.
“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 told The Daily Mail.
Friends defended Dosio’s hunting record, saying all of his trips were legal and tied to conservation efforts.
“All Ernie’s hunts were strictly licensed and above board and were registered as conservation in culling animal numbers,” one friend told The Daily Mail.
Friends also remembered him as “a very keen conservationist and he did a hell of a lot of charity work — and was a really good guy,” according to the New York Post.
Ernie Dosio’s Vineyard Business and Lodi Community Ties
Beyond his hunting pursuits, Dosio was a prominent figure in California’s agricultural industry and a well-known member of his local community in Lodi.
He owned Pacific AgriLands, an agricultural business based in Modesto, Calif., that runs a 12,000-acre vineyard operation. The Modesto wine region accounts for roughly 40% of California’s wine output.
Dosio held a board position on the Lodi Winegrape Commission, was a lifetime member of the California Wildfowl organization and was an active participant in the Sacramento Safari Club.
He also held the “Great Elk” title within the California Central District Elks for many years and hosted monthly fundraising events at the Elks Lodge attended by judges, vineyard owners and business leaders.
He leaves behind two sons — Jeff and Blake — who followed in his footsteps in the vineyard business. Jeff currently leads Pacific AgriLands as its president, and Blake also works in the family business.
Tommy Whitman, secretary of the Lodi Elks Lodge, posted a memorial tribute on Facebook.
“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,” Whitman wrote.
“He would never want recognition but he was always there with a loving heart…May all of our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and loved ones,” the tribute read.
Ricky Gervais and the Online Debate Over Ernie Dosio
Dosio’s death and the subsequent publication of photos from his trophy room sparked a heated online debate.
His hunting history drew pointed criticism from public figures, including comedian Ricky Gervais, who responded directly to The Daily Mail article about the incident.
But Gervais’ comment was met with sharp pushback from others online who defended Dosio and argued that licensed hunting plays a necessary role in wildlife conservation and population control.
Replying to the article, Gervais wrote in an X post: “The best thing is, they’ll never forget it.”
“You should delete this Ricky. It displays your abject ignorance at wildlife conservation and is frankly ghoulish ffs,” one reply read.
“Truly disgusting individuals. Educate yourselves on how big game hunting works. They’re controlling populations,” another commenter said.
This article was created by content specialists using various tools, including AI.
