California millionaire trampled to death by elephants while on African hunting expedition

Ernie Dosio, 75, was hunting yellow-backed duikers in Gabon when the deadly April 17 incident occurred.

Collect Africa, the Nigerian-based safari operator, confirmed Dosio's death to the publication. The California-Hawaii Elks Association also confirmed Dosio's death on Facebook.

"It is with a most heavy heart and sadness that I am reporting the passing of Ernie Dosio earlier this week," Tommy Whitman, secretary of Lodi Lodge 1900 and Central District Scouting chairman, wrote in a statement. "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.

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

"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."

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