Warning: This article contains images that some viewers made find distressing.
Five African elephants trampled a millionaire game hunter to death while he was out stalking antelopes armed with a high-powered rifle.
Reports claim that Ernie Dosio, 75, was ambushed in a rainforest in Gabon last Friday (17 April) while he was out on a £30,000 hunt where he aimed to snare a yellow-backed duiker.
The wealthy vineyard owner, from California, is said to have been brutally crushed by the herd of elephants who were spooked after they crossed paths with him and his guide.
Advert
The duo were making their way through the thick vegetation in the Lope-Okanda rainforest while in pursuit of an elusive yellow-backed duiker, a species which get their name from their nervous nature.
According to the Los Angeles Zoo, the antelopes 'quickly dive for cover when startled' and 'whistle a sharp alert before fleeing quickly into the thick underbrush'.
An array of Dosio's so-called 'trophies' are said to have lined the walls of his home in Lodi.
He reportedly had the heads of an elephant, rhino, bear, buffalo, crocodile, lion, zebra and leopard on display which he acquired during previous hunts.
The 75-year-old, who reportedly stumped up tens of thousands to take part in the deadly expedition in Gabon, inadvertently stumbled into the path of five female elephants and a calf last week.
The herd are said to have appeared 'as if from nowhere' while hidden behind the foliage which decorates the rainforest.
A retired game hunter based in Cape Town, who is said to know Dosio, shared some details of the horror trampling with the Daily Mail.
"Whilst in the forest Ernie and his PH (professional hunter) surprised five forest elephant cows with a calf," they told the publication. "Feeling under threat, the elephants immediately attacked them."
As the world's largest living land animal, the pair stood little chance against an army of African elephants. They can grow up to 12ft in height, weigh nearly four tons and can charge at speeds of nearly 25mph.
The pal of the late hunter went on: "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."
Dosio - who has previously hunted elephants, leopard, rhino, buffalo, lions and wild deer across Africa and the US - was not permitted to 'take along his own guns' on the trip, the source added.
It is said that the millionaire was supplied with a 'shotgun and cartridges' by the hunting firm who organised the pricey expedition.
The professional hunter who was accompanying him was reportedly attacked first by the elephants and lost the rifle that he was armed with.
The source said of Dosio's death: "I would rather not go into detail, but it is safe to assume it would have been quick.
"Ernie was a very well-known and popular hunter in the US and in Africa and a very keen conservationist and 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."
Dosio's body is in the process of being repatriated to Lodi, California, by the US Embassy, who said the process could take 'several days'.
Collect Africa, who organised the hunting trip, confirmed that a client had been killed after a deadly encounter with elephants.
Dosio, who is survived by his partner Betty and two children, made his fortune from his business Pacific AgriLands Inc, which boasts its own 12,000-acre vineyard in Modest.
The firm primarily provides management for local wine farms.
Dosio's son Jeff is the president of the company, while his other son Blake is also believed to have been involved in the family business.
Topics: Animals, World News, News
Olivia Burke