American millionaire Ernie Dosio († 75), known for his passion for hunting exotic game, he found death where he loved it most. According to information from the portal, ho trampled by a herd of elephants while hunting in the African jungle. For a man who had hundreds of animal trophies from all over the world, his lifelong hobby eventually became fatal.
The successful entrepreneur was no stranger to hunting circles. As the owner of the successful company Pacific AgriLands Inc, he could afford the most expensive hunting expeditions. His house in Lodi, California is literally a gallery of dead animals. On the walls hang the heads of lions, leopards, rhinoceroses and buffaloes. He went out into the world regularly and liked to be proud of his catches.
His last trip was to Lopé National Park in Gabon. For the exclusive trip, he paid approx 35 000 eur. The goal was to track down a rare species of antelope, the so-called yellow-backed warbler. During the expedition, the millionaire was accompanied by a professional hunter from Cape Town. The tragedy happened at the moment when the couple unexpectedly surprised five elephants with a baby in the dense forest. The animals felt threatened and went on a brutal attack.
The situation was complicated by the fact that according to strict local regulations, Dosio could not use his own weapons. He only had a shotgun designed for hunting antelopeswhich was ineffective against the enraged giants. The elephants first attacked the professional guide, who suffered serious injuries and lost his rifle in the impact. The merchant was thus left practically helpless in the jungle in the face of the herd. Enraged elephants trampled him right before the eyes of his injured companion, while one of them in particular showed extraordinary aggression and strength.
A professional hunter who survived the attack later described the terrifying moments. Although many people, including animal rights activists, publicly condemn the hunting of big game, he defends the millionaire as a seasoned man of action. “Ernie has been hunting since he could hold a rifle. All of our hunts were legal and strictly licensed as part of conservation and population control.” stated. He spoke briefly about the attack itself. “I wouldn’t like to go into details, but it’s safe to assume it was quick,” he added.
The body of the late rich man will be transported by the US Embassy from Gabon back to his native California. The sad news affected not only the hunting community, but especially those closest to him. Dosio lived with his longtime partner, Betty, in a luxurious mansion in the middle of vineyards near Sacramento. He left behind two children – sons Jeff and Blake, who worked with him in the family business.
