A MAN who keeps more than 100 snakes is to start breeding caimans and alligators in the back garden of his home.
Garry Murphy, 41, has set up a purpose-built enclosure in the garden of his two- bedroom house in Alva, Clackmannanshire, for his exotic collection of animals.
After successfully applying for a dangerous wild animal licence, he has just taken delivery of three baby caimans who will be joined by an alligator in the new year.
The caimans are currently living in tanks in the enclosure along with lizards and dozens of snakes including Burmese and royal pythons.
However, they can grow to up to 6ft and Garry, a construction manager, is currently putting the finishing touches to a pond for them to swim in.
The father-of-three told how he was forced to build the outhouse as his wife Katy wanted the animals out of the house. He became the first person in the Clackmannanshire area to be granted a dangerous wild animal licence earlier this year.
He said: “I got a snake as a teenager and my fascination just started from there. I built the enclosure last year and I just got the caimans last month after getting my licence.
“The plan is to breed them and alligators in the future but it is a slow process. If the breeding is successful I would have to look at getting a bigger facility.”
His collection of animals costs about £300 per month to feed, with the caimans currently being fed on insects.
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