Florida alligator missing top half of jaw gets new name in honor of fellow “sweetheart” Dolly Parton – and is already gaining weight by eating mice
- A jawless alligator has found a permanent home at Gatorland in Orlando
- The alligator’s tongue is fully visible as the snout is torn off below its eyes
- The exact cause of the alligator’s injury remains unclear, but wildlife experts suspect the injury occurred after the animal was caught in a hunting trap
A jawless alligator has found a forever home at Orlando’s Gatorland theme park.
The alligator’s tongue is fully visible after its snout appeared to be completely sawn off beneath its eyes.
It is not clear how the animal sustained the injury, but wildlife experts believe the clean cut occurred after the animal was caught in a hunting snare.
Feeding has also become a problem for the reptile due to its lack of a powerful bite, but it is believed to have survived by eating carrion, invertebrates or other slow-moving, small-moving prey for sustenance.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) was first alerted to the unusual sight in late August and helped rescue the alligator, which was eventually captured in mid-September.
The alligator has since been given the name Jawlene, inspired by the 1973 Dolly Parton hit “Jolene.”
A jawless alligator has found a forever home at Orlando’s Gatorland theme park
The alligator’s tongue is fully visible as the snout is torn off below its eyes
“We are simply a down-to-earth Southern country gem, and of course when you visit you will be treated to our warm Southern hospitality every time,” Gatorland CEO Mark McHugh said on Facebook.
“This little alligator is an absolute treasure.” “We’re so in love with her – but another American treasure is Dolly Parton,” he added.
Jawlene’s condition has improved since her rescue. She is now able to eat again after she was first spotted at a park in Sanford, near Orlando.
“At first my brain couldn’t comprehend that he was missing his entire upper jaw,” Eustacia Kanter told Fox 35 last month.
“When I realized I felt sorry for her, I took as good a photo as I could with my phone from a distance so I could share it and try to find help.”
The exact cause of the alligator’s injury remains unclear, but wildlife experts suspect the injury occurred after the animal was caught in a hunting trap
Gatorland’s Global Conservation Ambassador Savannah Boan helps care for the alligator
The young alligator is now finding her way back to her new “forever home” in Gatorland
The cut on the alligator’s jaw is clean, indicating that the crime was committed through a snare
The alligator remains in captivity but is able to eat, something that probably would have been impossible in the wild
“From the image provided to me, the alligator appears to be in good body weight and the injury has healed, but survivability in the wild is low,” Kim Titterington, a wildlife rehabilitator, told People.
“It could have come from an entanglement with another alligator, but the clean cut also suggests that this animal was caught in a hunting snare.”
Titterington also pointed out that the alligator likely had not had a snout for some time, as the injury appeared to be scarred and fully healed.
The alligator remains in captivity, but thanks to the care of the theme park and zoo, it is now much easier to feed as it now has a steady stream of food.