Jawless Florida Gator Gets Dolly Parton-Inspired Name ‘Jawlene’

A Florida gator missing the top half of its jaw, which was rescued earlier this month, has now found a home at Gatorland in Orlando. After securing a suitable habitat for the reptile, Gatorland’s Global Ambassador, Savannah Boan, alongside CEO Mark McHugh, revealed the reptile’s name in a recent video.

They noted that the park’s staff named the gator in tribute to Dolly Parton’s hit single, “Jolene,” noting, “One of the names that kind of rung really clear with us, and grew on us, was a takeoff on one of Dolly’s famous songs, so we’re going to name this little gator ‘Jawlene.'”

Jawlene’s condition is quite shocking

Jawlene gained attention after her photo was uploaded to Facebook by Katrina Shadix. She was spotted in Sanford, Florida, and Eustacia Kanter told PEOPLE she took the picture at Wilson’s Landing Park in August. “Is anyone in the area that can HELP this poor alligator?” Shadix wrote on Facebook, seeking medical assistance for the reptile.

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Shadix contacted Kim Titterington, a licensed wildlife rehabilitator who found Jawlene’s condition “very shocking.” In the photo, she had her tongue sticking out and her snout ripped under her eyes. “From the image I was provided, the alligator appears to have good body weight, and the injury healed over, but the continued survivability in the wild is slim,” Kim said.

Jawlene is getting good care at Gatorland

Kim assumes the injury was a result of a snare due to the clean cut or an attack from another alligator. Shadix contacted the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, who assured her that Jawlene would be found and cared for.

She is now in the care of Gatorland staff, who submitted several name suggestions for her until they finally settled on Jawlene. “First of all, I want to thank everybody for all the wonderful names that were submitted,” the CEO said, acknowledging the staff. According to Boan and Mark, Jawlene is doing well at Gatorland and is gaining some weight. “She’s already gained, like, .3 grams of weight. So we’re real proud of her,” Boan said.