A tragic incident has claimed the life of a California vineyard owner during a hunting trip in Africa, where he was fatally crushed by elephants.

Ernie Dosio, aged 75, was on an expedition in Gabon targeting yellow-backed duikers when the fatal accident took place on April 17.

Dosio, known for his extensive collection of animal trophies, met his end in the Lope-Okanda rainforest. He and his guide inadvertently encountered a group of five female elephants accompanied by a calf, leading to the tragic trampling, as reported by the Daily Mail.

The incident was confirmed by Collect Africa, a safari operator based in Nigeria, who communicated the sad news to the press. Additionally, the California-Hawaii Elks Association acknowledged Dosio’s passing on their Facebook page.

In a related image, elephants stand at the forest’s edge in Pongara National Park near Libreville, Gabon. It is reported that big game hunter Ernie Dosio lost his life after being crushed by elephants while hunting in the region. (Christophe Van Der Perre/Reuters)

“With great sorrow and a heavy heart, I must report the passing of Ernie Dosio earlier this week,” stated Tommy Whitman, secretary of Lodi Lodge 1900 and Central District Scouting chairman, in an official announcement.

“May all of our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and loved ones. He will be sorely missed.”

Fox News Digital has reached out to the U.S. Embassy in Gabon and the safari company.

An unnamed hunter in Cape Town who knew Dosio told the news outlet that Dosio had been “hunting since he could hold a rifle and had many trophies from Africa and the U.S.”

Elephants in a forest at Pongara National Park near Libreville, Gabon. (Christophe Van Der Perre/Reuters)

“Although many disagree with big game hunting, all of Ernie’s hunts were strictly licensed and above board and were registered as conservation culls to manage animal numbers,” he said. 

“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.”

The hunting company would supply a shotgun and cartridges for the duiker hunt, he said.

The hunter added he believes Dosio and his guide surprised the elephants, who attacked because they felt threatened.

A forest elephant roams through a clearing in Gamba, Gabon. (Guillem Sartorio/Bloomberg)

“I would rather not go into detail, but it is safe to assume it would have been quick,” he said. “Ernie was a very well-known and popular hunter in the U.S. and in Africa and a very keen conservationist; he did a hell of a lot of charity work and was a really good guy. What happened has been deeply felt by many on both sides of the Atlantic.”

Dosio’s body is being repatriated to America with assistance from the U.S. Embassy.

Dosio owned Pacific AgriLands Inc., a Modesto, California, vineyard land management company with its own 12,000-acre vineyard, according to Lodi News.

Central Africa is home to roughly 95,000 endangered forest elephants, with the largest numbers being found in Gabon, according to the World Wildlife Fund.

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