The official cause of death has been released for Ernie Dosio, the 75-year-old millionaire big-game hunter whose life ended in a horrific encounter with elephants during an African safari. The incident has sent shockwaves through the hunting community and beyond.
Dosio was on a hunting expedition in Gabon, tracking yellow-backed duikers—a type of forest antelope—alongside two professional hunters. What began as a routine pursuit turned deadly when a group of elephants charged the party.
According to reports, the elephants initially charged to scare off the hunters. But when the group failed to retreat far enough, the animals charged again, this time with fatal consequences. One of Dosio’s hunting partners was seriously injured in the attack. Another unharmed hunter tried to drag Dosio to safety behind a tree, but a female elephant gored him with her tusk. Dosio was trampled and died at the scene.
Tommy Whitman, secretary of Lodi Lodge 1900, paid tribute to Dosio on Facebook: “May all of our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and loved ones.” The lodge and the wider hunting community are mourning the loss of a man who lived for the thrill of the chase.
Dosio had partnered with Collect Africa, a safari company based in Coral Gables, Florida, for the trip. The company describes itself as “dedicated and committed to assisting you in finding and preparing the best safari possible to achieve your African hunting goals.”
This tragic event echoes other recent headlines that remind us of the unpredictability of life. In a separate story, a 75-Year-Old Millionaire Hunter Killed in Tragic Elephant Encounter During African Safari underscores the dangers of big-game hunting. Meanwhile, the sports world has also seen its share of tragedy, such as the Chiefs' Super Bowl Winner Named Person of Interest in Death of Missing Woman and the Travis Hunter's Wife Drops Brutally Honest Advice for NFL Draft WAGs.
Dosio’s death is a stark reminder that even the most experienced hunters are not immune to the raw power of nature. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and all who knew him. May he rest in peace.
