Florida alligator missing top half of jaw is given new name in honor of fellow ‘treasure’ Dolly Parton – and is already gaining weight eating mice
Florida alligator missing top half of jaw gets new name in honor of fellow ‘darling’ Dolly Parton – and is already getting fatter by eating mice
- A jawless alligator has found a permanent home at Gatorland in Orlando
- The alligator’s tongue is completely exposed because the snout is torn off below its eyes
- The exact cause of the alligator’s injury remains unclear, but wildlife experts suspect it occurred after the animal became entangled in a hunting trap
An alligator with no upper jaw has found a forever home at Gatorland theme park in Orlando.
The alligator’s tongue is fully visible after its snout appeared to be completely torn off below its eyes.
It is not clear how the animal suffered the injury, but wildlife experts believe the sharp cut occurred after the animal was caught in a hunting snare.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) was first notified of the unusual sight in late August and helped rescue the alligator, which was eventually captured in mid-September.
The alligator has since been named Jawlene, inspired by the 1973 Dolly Parton hit, Jolene.
An alligator with no upper jaw has found a forever home at Gatorland theme park in Orlando
The alligator’s tongue is completely exposed because the snout is torn off below its eyes
“We are simply a gem in the South Country and when you come visit us you will of course receive our warm, Southern hospitality every time you come,” Gatorland CEO Mark McHugh said on Facebook.
‘This little alligator is an absolute treasure. We are so in love with her – but another American treasure is Dolly Parton,” he added.
Jawlene’s condition has improved since he was rescued. He can now eat again after he was first spotted in a park in Sanford near Orlando.
The exact cause of the alligator’s injury remains unclear, but wildlife experts suspect it occurred after the animal became entangled in a hunting trap
Gatorland’s global conservation ambassador, Savannah Boan, helps care for the alligator
The young alligator is now finding her feet again in her new ‘forever home’ in Gatorland
The cut on the alligator’s jaw is clean, indicating that the deed was done with a snare
The alligator will remain in captivity but will be able to feed, which would likely have been impossible in the wild
“From the image I got, the alligator is at a good body weight and the injury has healed, but its chances of survival in the wild are slim,” said Kim Titterington, a wildlife rehabilitator. People.
“It could be from another alligator, but the clean cut also suggests this animal was caught in a hunting snare.”
The alligator will remain in captivity, but can now feed, which would likely have been impossible in the wild.