In a video posted online in March, Els says: "I call him and he immediately responds to come and play with me. I feed him apples. He opens his mouth. Big jaws, and teeth like this. It's a little bit dangerous, but I can swim with him. I go in the water. He allows me to get on his back and I ride him like a horse. He swims with me."

Credit : MATTHEW TABACCOS / BARCROFT MEDIA