American Millionaire Dies on $40,000 Hunting Trip After Being Charged at by Elephant Herd

Ernie Dosio was hunting antelope in Gabon at the time of the fatal incident

Ernie Dosio, 2017.Credit : Wagonhound Outfitters/Facebook

An American millionaire and big-game hunter has died following an encounter with elephants in Gabon, according to multiple reports.

Ernie Dosio, 75, a California vineyard owner known for his extensive trophy hunting collection, was on a guided hunting trip in the Lope-Okanda rainforest when the incident occurred, the Daily Mail reported.

According to the outlet, Dosio was on a $40,000 hunt targeting a yellow-backed duiker, a small forest-dwelling antelope found in Central and West Africa.

During the outing, the hunting party unexpectedly encountered a group of five female elephants with a calf. The herd emerged suddenly from “dense undergrowth” in the area before charging at Dosio and his guide, per the Daily Mail.

Safari operator Collect Africa confirmed the death of its client, according to the outlet, which also reported that the professional hunter guiding Dosio survived, sustaining serious injuries in the encounter.

Dosio was also the owner of Pacific AgriLands Inc., a company that manages approximately 12,000 acres of vineyard land in Modesto and provides services and equipment financing to wine producers, according to The Guardian.

Officials from the U.S. Embassy in Gabon are coordinating the return of Dosio’s remains to California, the Daily Mail reported.

African elephants, the species involved in the encounter, are the largest land animals on Earth. According to the World Wildlife Fund, they can weigh about six tons and reach heights of up to 11 feet.

Elephants in Gabon.

STEEVE JORDAN/AFP via Getty

The organization also notes that elephants play a critical role in maintaining ecosystems, helping disperse seeds and shape habitats for other species. At the same time, elephant populations have declined significantly over the past century due to hunting and poaching.

Trophy hunting remains a controversial issue worldwide. Some groups argue it can help fund conservation efforts and protect wildlife habitats, while others say it places additional pressure on species that are already vulnerable.

PEOPLE has reached out to Collect Africa and Pacific AgriLands for comment.