A WOMAN from Florida, the U.S., is fighting to keep her 1.8-meter-long pet alligator in her home.

    The 125-pound (56.7-kg) reptile named Rambo wears clothes, rides on the back of a motorcycle and has a bedroom in Mary Thorn’s home in Lakeland.

    Thorn has had a license for the alligator for 11 years, but he recently grew to 1.8 meters. According to Florida Fish and Wildlife, an alligator his size must have 1 hectare of land.

    She told the Orlando Sentinel that even if she had land available, Rambo can’t be left outdoors because of sensitivity to sunlight.

    Thorn said when she received Rambo he was 4 years old and up to that point had been kept in a dark closet cramped in a tank with several other gators.

    A letter Thorn provided from Privileged Critters Animal Hospital in Lakeland says alligators raised in a filtered light environment develop this type of sensitivity and therefore shouldn’t be “left outside for any length of time,” according to the Sentinel.

    The 15-year-old reptile stays in Thorn’s home. She said that she takes him to elementary schools, charity events and conventions to teach people about reptiles.

    Thorn has taught Rambo not to bite, scratch, head butt or swat, which allows him to interact with the public safely.

    She told the Sentinel, “He loves kids and when kids come around he shuts his mouth really tight so fingers can’t go in his mouth.”

    Thorn has also been given permission to have him out and about without his snout taped shut.

    There’s still a chance that Thorn will get to keep Rambo since she had him before the 1-hectare stipulation went into effect.

    FWC spokesman Gary Morse said Thorn’s case is still open and under investigation and there’s no concrete timeline for a resolution.(SD-Agencies)