A millionaire big-game hunter was killed during the very expedition he paid thousands of dollars to experience.
Ernie Dosio, 75, a California vineyard owner and longtime safari enthusiast, died during a guided hunting trip in Gabon’s Lope-Okanda rainforest.
Reports say Dosio was part of a $40,000 expedition when the hunting group encountered a herd of elephants with a calf.
Moments later, the animals charged.
The professional hunter who was with him survived but suffered serious injuries. Dosio did not survive the encounter.
Friends remembered him as a man who loved the outdoors and supported conservation efforts and charities.
Beyond hunting, Dosio was known as the owner of Pacific AgriLands Inc., managing thousands of acres of vineyard land in California.
Authorities are now working to return his remains home.
The tragic incident has also reignited debate around trophy hunting, wildlife protection, and the complicated relationship between humans and some of the world’s largest animals.
A journey meant to capture a trophy ended with a heartbreaking reminder of nature’s power.