Warning: This article contains images that some viewers may find distressing.
Relatives of a big-game hunter who reportedly died after being charged by elephants in Africa have spoken publicly about the incident, describing the confusing way they first heard about the vineyard millionaire’s death.
According to reports, on April 17, 75-year-old Ernie Dosio travelled into a rainforest in Gabon with a guide as part of a trip to hunt yellow-backed duiker — a reclusive antelope species noted for its rounded build and short horns, as described by the Jacksonville Zoo.
Dosio was said to be involved with California Wildfowl and a familiar figure at the Sacramento Safari Club. He reportedly paid around £30,000 ($40,600) for the hunt and used a borrowed shotgun.
While in the forest, Dosio and his guide from safari operator Collect Africa were reportedly confronted by a small group of elephants, including a calf.
The hunter, who had amassed a large trophy collection over many years, was allegedly trampled during the encounter. Collect Africa has confirmed the death of its client.
However, Dosio’s ex-wife, Rinda Butler Dosio, said details circulating online about what happened have not matched what the family has been told.
“There’s so many different things that are going around. Everything gets kind of exaggerated,” she 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.
“It’s a huge shock. He was a big time hunter and it shouldn’t have happened.”
Rinda also claimed another person died in the same incident, though Collect Africa has said the professional hunter with Dosio was injured.
One of Dosio’s sons, Jeff Dosio, said on Friday (24 April) that additional information would likely surface about what took place.
“t 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,” he said, referencing a widely shared image showing taxidermy animals in his father’s home.
“I want to set the record straight with my sincerity at the bottom of it and my statement.”
It has also been reported the US embassy in Gabon is working to return the father-of-two’s remains to California.
Online tributes have appeared as well. One former hunter in Cape Town described Dosio as a “really good guy” in comments to the Daily Mail, while addressing the broader debate around big-game hunting.
The unnamed man told the Daily Mail: “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.
“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.”
He went on to claim Dosio was well known among those communities and characterised him as dedicated to conservation, adding that the loss had resonated on both sides of the Atlantic.
“He did a hell of a lot of charity work and was a really good guy. What happened has been deeply felt by many each side of the Atlantic.”
Meanwhile, comedian Ricky Gervais faced criticism after weighing in online with a brief remark about the reported death.
The 64-year-old comedian, who became an ethical vegan in 2022 after years of being a vegetarian, re-shared an article about the game hunter’s demise and wrote: “The best thing is, they’ll never forget it.”
Reactions on X were divided. One person criticised those celebrating the death, writing: “All y’all cheering for the death of a father of two on a legitimate hunt make me sick.”
Another added: “You should delete this Ricky. It displays your abject ignorance at wildlife conservation and is frankly ghoulish ffs,” while a third posted: “Dumb, dumb, dumb. Another mass murderer bites the dust.”
In Dosio’s local community, Tommy Whitman — secretary of Lodi Lodge in San Joaquin County wine country — shared a tribute describing his grief and offering condolences to Dosio’s family.
“It is with a most heavy heart and sadness that I am reporting the passing of Ernio Dosio. May all of our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and loved ones,” he wrote.
“Ernie was Great Elk for 30 years and a pillar in our community who will be sorely missed.”
Whitman expanded further in a Facebook post, saying Dosio was frequently generous in private and active in helping others.
He added in a Facebook post: “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.
“He would never want recognition but he was always there with a loving heart. Ernie’s passion was hunting and he spent much of his time either hunting here in the USA or in Africa and most of his trophies are on display at his own trophy rooms.
“He will be really missed around here and was one of the real good guys.”