Florida woman fighting to keep pet alligator Rambo who wears clothes and rides her motorbike

RAMBO the alligator wears clothes, rides motorbikes and watches TV. He’s like a son to Mary Thorn who refuses to give him up.

Mary Thorn wants alligator to live in Florida home. Picture: Facebook/Mary Thorn

MEET Rambo, the pet alligator who wears clothes, rides motorbikes and has a bedroom in Mary Thorn’s Florida home.

Ms Thorn has had a licence for Rambo for 11 years, but wildlife officials say she might have to give him up.

The 56.7kg reptile recently grew to two metres and, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife, must have 2.5 acres of open space.

But Ms Thorn said that, even if she had the land, Rambo can’t be left outdoors. Before she began caring for him, he lived in a dark tank with other gators which made him sensitive to sunlight.

“Without him, I don’t feel like even wanting to go on,” she told Orlando Sentinel. “Everybody is taking it pretty hard because they know how much I love the gator.”

Hopelessly devoted to you ... Mary Thorn dresses Rambo up. Picture: Facebook/Mary Thorn

Indoor pet ... Rambo the alligator likes to watch TV at owner Mary Thorn’s Florida home. Picture: Facebook/Mary Thorn

Surfing the web ... Rambo is house trained. Picture: Facebook/Mary Thorn

Ms Thorn has raised Rambo like he is her own son. She’s taught him not to bite or swat his tail, and has even toilet trained him (he wiggles when he needs to go outside).

When the 15-year-old gator is not hanging out with Ms Thorn’s dogs or watching TV, his owner takes him to schools and charity events to teach people about reptiles.

“He loves kids and when kids come around he shuts his mouth really tight so fingers can’t go in his mouth,” Ms Thorn said, adding she has permission to take him out in public without taping his snout shut.

Born to be wild ... Mary Thorn’s pet alligator likes to ride motorbikes. Picture: Facebook/Mary Thorn

 

If the gator has to go, Ms Thorn said she will send him to Croc Encounters, a wildlife sanctuary in Tampa.

“He’s like my son. He’s my family,” Ms Thorn told New York Daily News. “He’s not a normal gator. He has never been a normal gator.”

Florida wildlife commission spokesman Gary Morse said Ms Thorn’s case is under investigation.

Mary Thorn with Rambo when he was a baby. Picture: Facebook/Mary Thorn

Rambo behind the wheel. Picture: Facebook/Mary Thorn

Gentle giant ... Rambo wears clothes, rides on the back of a motorcycle and has a bedroom in Mary Thorn's home. Picture: Mary Thorn via AP

Originally published as Florida woman fighting to keep pet alligator Rambo who wears clothes and rides her motorbike