A millionaire US big game hunter, Ernie Dosio, was killed by five elephants while hunting a yellow-backed duiker in Gabon, according to major media reports. Dosio, 75, a Californian vineyard owner, was trampled to death by a herd of five female elephants with a calf in dense rainforest. The professional hunter accompanying Dosio was seriously injured and lost his rifle during the attack. Dosio's body is being repatriated by the US Embassy in Gabon to Lodi, California.
In a separate incident, South African safari park owner Gary Freeman was killed by a charging elephant while leading a group of tourists on a guided hike, major media reported. Freeman, a co-owner of the 148,000-acre Klaserie Private Nature Reserve, brandished his revolver to try to scare off the elephant but did not fire. He died on April 9, and police in Limpopo Province have opened an inquest. Freeman had previously stated he would rather be killed by an elephant than shoot one, according to his friend Judy Connors.
British tourist Janet Taylor Easton, 67, was trampled to death by an elephant while on safari in Zambia's South Luangwa National Park on July 3, major media reported. Her cousin Alison Taylor, 67, from New Zealand, also died in the same incident. The inquest recorded Janet Easton's death as misadventure. According to assistant coroner Caroline Chandler, the plan was a guided walk on foot to the Luangwa River where they would cross by canoe. The guide adjusted the walk to remain downwind and undetected, but the tracker saw the elephant charging from behind. The scout fired a warning shot, but the elephant did not stop and reached the group quickly, causing Janet to fall. The cause of death was traumatic thoracic injuries and elephant attack. Chandler noted that Janet was on a walking safari with all intent and purposes on a lovely excursion and did not anticipate it would end sadly. She also acknowledged that the family still had unanswered questions and hoped they could find closure. The outcome of the inquest for Alison Taylor was not reported.