If you need a feel-good story for the week, this might be it. I hate to make light of someone’s tragic death, but then again, I don’t feel too sad for this guy. Ernie Dosio, a 75-year-old vineyard owner millionaire from California, traveled to Gabon in April to hunt for yellow-backed duiker – a small, forest-dwelling antelope indigenous to Central Africa. A big game hunter, Dosio possessed a large trophy hunting collection.
On April 17, Dosio and his entourage were marching through the Lopé-Okanda rainforest when they stumbled upon five female African elephants. Among the small herd was a calf. African elephants are the largest land animals on Earth; weighing up to 6 tons (6,000 kg) and reaching heights of 11 feet (3.35 m).
I don’t know what exactly happened; if Dosio or anyone in his group antagonized the animals or simply couldn’t get out of the way in time. But, like any animal, elephants are extremely protective of their young, and perceive anyone who approaches them as a threat.
Trophy hunting remains controversial, with proponents claiming it helps to fund conservation efforts and detractors declaring it places additional stress on already vulnerable animal populations.
Again, I’m not celebrating Dosio’s death, but I’m not quite feeling mournful. Trophy hunting serves no purpose except to feed the bloated egos of self-styled elitists. A one-way plane ticket to Africa from the United States can cost a minimal of USD 800 just for an economy seat. That money could be better spent as a donation to a wildlife fund. But I’m not one to tell people how to spend their money.
Still, here’s one small victory for the animal planet!
Chief Writing Wolf 