Disabled alligator with half its mouth missing is nicknamed Jawlene after being saved by caring resident

A disabled alligator nicknamed 'Jawlene' because it is missing half its mouth has been rescued by a resident who found it wandering around a Florida neighborhood.

The gator was spotted on a boat ramp by a local resident who was concerned by its missing upper jaw and called animal rescue for help. 

Jerry Flynn, a trapper with the Florida Wildlife Commission, safely captured the alligator and transported it to a new home - Gatorland, a theme park and wildlife reserve in Orlando.

There, the reptile has found a dedicated caretaker, Savannah Boan, a crocodilian enrichment coordinator at the reserve.

Boan, affectionately named it Jawlene, a playful twist on Dolly Parton's classic country song 'Jolene.'

A disabled alligator was saved when a resident spotted the struggling reptile aimlessly wandering around a Florida neighborhood

The gator, missing its entire upper jaw, was found on a boat ramp by a local resident, who called animal control for further assistance

Boan said: 'Jerry brought her here to us because he knew we would do anything and everything to save her.'

She added that experts at the park were unable to determine how Jawlene sustained the injury in the first place. 

'It was hard to tell who or what hurt her, it was easy to see that she was underweight and not going to survive in the wild,' said Boan. 'Even though her injury was healed, she was unable to hunt or defend herself.'

Boan, having rescued alligators for years, said they worked around the clock to help Jawlene heal.

'We spent months nursing her back to health with regular checkups from our veterinarian and provided her with vitamins and medication to improve her health.' she said.

'Our team of gator experts worked hard to create a quiet place for her to relax in her new home and began teaching her how to eat and take food from us.'

Since coming into the care of the park in September, Boan happily reported that Jawlene is on the mend. 

Jerry Flynn (center), a trapper with the Florida Wildlife Commission, was called to the scene, safely capturing the alligator and transporting it to a new home – Gatorland, a theme park and wildlife reserve in Orlando

Savannah holding Jawlene whilst undergoing a medical check-up from one of the doctor's at Gatorland

Boan said: 'She immediately stole our hearts and we are ecstatic to report that she is gaining weight and is in great health.'

'Jawlene has gained about three and a half pounds since arriving at Gatorland.

'She was very skinny and lethargic when she arrived, but nowadays she's as active and as feisty as any other alligator her size.'

Experts believe Jawlene is around four to six years of age.

The gator, who once slept on the streets, now spends her days in her personal habitat with her own pool.

She's also made new friends with a turtle named Nellie Wafer, who she spends most of her time with.

Boan said Jawlene could not survive on her own without her top jaw as she's unable to hunt or defend herself. But thankfully Jawlene has found her 'forever' home.

Boan said that experts at the park were unable to determine how Jawlene sustained the injury in the first place. Because of her disabiloty, Boan said Jawlene would not be able to eat or defend for herself in the wild.

The gator, who once slept on the streets, now spends her days in her personal habitat with her own pool. She's also made new friends with a turtle named Nellie Wafer, who she spends most of her time with.

'She has a safe and beautiful home with us at Gatorland,' said Boan.

Boan has big dreams for Jawlene, however, and hopes she can check one last item off the gator's bucket list. 

'We hope one day that she gets to meet the amazing Dolly Parton since she is named after her famous song Jolene!' she said.

'Dolly is an American treasure and so is little Miss Jawlene!'