Ernie Dosio, a 75-year-old Lodi vineyard owner and longtime Central Valley agricultural figure, was trampled to death by a group of forest elephants during a guided hunting trip in Gabon's Lope-Okanda rainforest last Friday. His professional guide was seriously injured in the attack, which unfolded suddenly in dense undergrowth where visibility is notoriously limited. The news has rippled through Lodi and Modesto, where Dosio ran the vineyard management firm Pacific AgriLands.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Dosio and his guide were tracking a small forest antelope when they unexpectedly came upon five female elephants and a calf. The startled animals charged, and Dosio was fatally crushed. International outlets, including The Guardian, report that the safari operator confirmed the client’s death and said the professional hunter was seriously injured. Officials in Gabon and the U.S. Embassy are working together to repatriate Dosio’s remains.
Local ties
Dosio operated Pacific AgriLands, a Modesto-based vineyard management company that oversees roughly 12,000 acres in the region, according to industry listings. Lodi Growers lists Pacific AgriLands and identifies Dosio in its company directory, underscoring his footprint in the area’s wine economy.
Community groups moved quickly to acknowledge the loss. Tommy Whitman, secretary of Lodi Lodge 1900, wrote that members were "heavy‑hearted" over Dosio’s death, a statement reported by FOX News. Local reactions have largely focused on supporting the family and recognizing Dosio’s long tenure in Central Valley agriculture.
Gabon, the elephants and the bigger picture
Gabon is considered one of the last strongholds for forest elephants. A Wildlife Conservation Society survey estimated roughly 95,000 forest elephants in the Central African nation, making it a key player in global conservation efforts. Conservation groups and recent reporting have stressed that illegal poaching has taken a devastating toll on elephant populations across Africa, a point the San Francisco Chronicle highlighted in its coverage of the incident.
The deadly encounter has also renewed debate over the safety and ethics of guided trophy hunts in dense rainforest terrain, where thick vegetation can hide both game and large, easily startled animals. While such trips are marketed as controlled and highly managed, Dosio’s death is being cited as an example of how rapidly conditions can become lethal.
What officials have said
Reporting on the case names the safari operator and the U.S. Embassy as coordinating both official notifications and the repatriation process, with international outlets saying the company is cooperating with Gabonese authorities. A Pacific AgriLands representative told reporters that the family was not ready to comment, according to press coverage by The Guardian and Fox News. Local organizations have said they will hold space for Dosio’s family as funeral arrangements and travel logistics are finalized.
Dosio’s death is described as a rare but stark reminder of how quickly rainforest hunts can turn deadly, even for seasoned big‑game hunters. Members of Lodi’s agricultural community say they intend to respect the family’s privacy while officials and loved ones work to bring him home.
