Jawlene
American alligator with a missing upper jaw
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jawlene is a female American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) living at Gatorland in Orlando, Florida.[1][2] She is notable for having lost most of her upper jaw.[1] Despite the severity of her injury, Jawlene has survived for years and has become one of Gatorland's most recognized animals.[1][3][4]
Background
Jawlene is believed to have lost her upper jaw due to trauma sustained in the wild, possibly from a boat propeller, entanglement in fishing line, or a fight with another American alligator.[5] Such injuries are uncommon but survivable in alligators due to their slow metabolism, strong immune systems, and ability to adapt feeding behaviors.
The alligator was later captured in mid September 2023 and transferred to Gatorland, where she now lives under permanent human care.[1]
Injury and survival
Jawlene's injury involves her the near-complete loss of her upper snout, leaving exposed tissue and teeth. Despite this, she is able to eat using modified feeding techniques, primarily relying on gravity and assistance from caretakers. Gatorland staff provide her with specialized feeding and veterinary monitoring.[5][6]