There’s a local 4-year-old who’s now internationally-known. Here name is Jawlene, an alligator with a unique appearance, and a heck of a story.

1. Jawlene is missing her upper jaw. She was spotted in August near a boat dock in Sanford. “It could’ve been a machete, or it could’ve been a boat propeller,” said Gatorland’s Savannah Boan, about Jawlene’s injury.

2. Savannah — who’s a Crocodilian International Ambassador — is caring for Jawlene. Since Jawlene can’t bite down, teaching her how to eat has been quite the feat. “She can’t smell (either), so she doesn’t really know what anything is that I’m putting on her tongue,” Savannah said. But after countless hours of feedings, Jawlene has learned to swallow perfectly portioned cuts of meat.

3. “She’s just a happy little thing and the whole world is in love with her, which makes it even better," Savannah said.

4. Since arriving at Gatorland, Jawlene has put on 3 pounds. Savannah says Jawlene’s tail is getting thicker, too, and her belly is plumper.

5. As for her name: “We love Dolly Parton here at Gatorland, and we thought, well, Dolly Parton is an American treasure, and so is Jawlene.” You can find Jawlene in the Baby Gator Marsh habitat.