Japanese man has adopted a giant 6ft 8in, 46kg caiman a kind of Alligator Belongs to Crocodiles family. Bromance between mini alligator and Japanese man spans 34 years.
Most people settle for cats or dogs as their pet of choice. But one Japanese man has taken things a step further – adopting a giant 6ft 8in caiman.
Nobumitsu Murabayashi, 65, can regularly be seen strolling down the road with his unlikely pet – much to the bemusement of passers by.
And despite weighing an eye-watering 100lbs, the gentle giant lives inside Mr Murabayashi’s home in Kure City, Hiroshima, Japan.
The pair have been living together for 34 years, with veterinary experts estimating the caiman has a life expectancy of anywhere between another 20 and 30 years.
Mr Murabayashi originally purchased the caiman – who he named inventively ‘Caiman’ – as a baby from an exotic animal festival and was subsequently given permission from the city’s government to keep the unusual pet at home.
He said: ‘I never thought he would grow this big. It has been 34 years since I got him. I try to communicate with him through actions such as brushing his teeth, etc.’
Mr. Murabayashi admits his long suffering wife isn’t necessarily a big fan of Caiman.
He said: ‘Every day my wife is more fed up with me. So I spend my days with Caiman instead.
His bizarre friendship – which included petting, brushing its teeth and walking him on a lead – led to numerous local TV appearances that made him a minor celebrity.
Caiman also has his own large tub of water at the front of the house.
But, Mr. Murabayashi admits, keeping up with the eating habits of his pet can be tricky.
He has to change his traditional sliding paper doors every year due to damage from his hefty lodger.
Experts estimate the caiman has a life expectancy of anywhere between 50 and 70 years and Mr. Murabayashi hopes to live ‘another 30 years’ so he can continue to care for his beloved pet.