By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Gramma, a beloved Galapagos tortoise and the oldest resident of the San Diego Zoo, has passed away at an estimated age of 141. Arriving at the zoo in either 1928 or 1931, Gramma charmed visitors with her gentle demeanor, living through numerous historical events. Her care specialists affectionately called her “the Queen of the Zoo” as she faced age-related health issues and was eventually euthanized. Galapagos tortoises are known for their longevity, with the oldest recorded, Harriet, living to 175 years old.
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Gramma the Galápagos tortoise, oldest resident of San Diego Zoo, dies at about 141, and it’s truly the end of an era. Just imagine, this gentle giant, estimated to have been born around 1884, lived through a mind-boggling amount of history. Think about it: she was around when Grover Cleveland was president (the first president to serve non-consecutive terms), and she passed away as we’ve just seen a president serving a non-consecutive term win again. That’s a staggering timeframe! The zoo announced her passing on November 20th, a day that marks the end of an incredibly long chapter in the life of this remarkable creature.
Gramma’s journey to San Diego is a story in itself. It’s not perfectly clear when she arrived, but the zoo believes it was sometime between 1928 and 1931. She came from the Bronx Zoo, as part of the initial group of Galápagos tortoises brought to San Diego. This means she’s been a part of the San Diego Zoo’s family for almost a century! Think about the changes she witnessed within the zoo walls and the world outside.
She delighted visitors for many, many years with her gentle and shy nature. She became a beloved icon, a living testament to resilience. She lived through two World Wars, countless technological advancements, and a staggering 20 US presidents. It’s almost impossible to fully grasp the scale of the world’s transformations she observed during her incredibly long life.
The world around Gramma certainly changed rapidly. While she was probably unaware of the constant flow of information and cultural shifts, the efforts to preserve her species were definitely something to celebrate. Over the past few decades, tremendous conservation work has been done to breed these magnificent tortoises in captivity. The Galápagos Conservancy reports that since 1965, more than 10,000 juvenile tortoises have been released back into the wild. This dedication has helped bring some subspecies back from the very edge of extinction.
The recent news that first-time parents, both roughly 100 years old, at the Philadelphia Zoo, had baby Galápagos tortoises is fascinating. It’s a reminder of the long lifespans of these animals, and their ability to reproduce even at such advanced ages. Even Zoo Miami had a 135-year-old father a few months ago. It is quite amazing to consider their continued reproductive capacity, well into what we would consider their “golden years.”
Meeting Gramma would have been an unforgettable experience. Many people were lucky enough to see her in person. It’s a bittersweet feeling, realizing that this amazing creature that was alive at the beginning of the industrial revolution is now gone.
It is easy to imagine the impact a creature with such a rich history can have. As one can only guess at what Gramma thought of it all, her existence certainly served as a powerful reminder of the enduring beauty and power of nature.
While she may not have been aware of social media, she certainly became a local celebrity. A tortoise who lived for so long is a special being. I can’t help but be a little sentimental about her passing.