FREE STATE, SOUTH AFRICA - UNDATED: ***EXCLUSIVE***Marius Els with his pet hippo Humphrey at his farm in Free State, South Africa.In the wild west frontiersmen rode horses, in ancient India warriors were known to mount elephants and in parts of Afric A South African farmer was reportedly mauled to death on Sunday by his pet hippo, which he had previously referred to as "like a son to me."Marius Els, who lived in the Free State province of South Africa was found dead in a river, having been bitten repeatedly by the animal.Els, 40, had adopted the hippo, whom he had named "Humphrey," when it was found as a calf.
Earlier this year footage of Els riding the more than 2,000-pound beast went viral.MORE NEWS: Leopard mauls Florida man who paid for.