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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Goliath, Zoo Miami’s 135-year-old Galapagos tortoise, celebrated his first Father’s Day after his first offspring successfully hatched on June 4th. This marks a significant milestone, as it is the first time a Galapagos tortoise has hatched at the zoo. The hatchling, from a clutch laid in January, is thriving in a separate enclosure while his parents, Goliath and Sweet Pea, remain in their public habitat. The event is particularly noteworthy given the endangered status of Galapagos tortoises, threatened by historical exploitation and modern climate change.
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The Philadelphia Zoo announced the hatching of four critically endangered Galapagos tortoise hatchlings, a first in the zoo’s 150-year history. The offspring of the zoo’s oldest residents, nearly 100-year-old Mommy and Abrazzo, are currently being cared for behind the scenes. This event is significant, as Mommy is a highly valuable member of a species survival plan and the oldest first-time mother of her kind. A public debut and naming contest for the hatchlings is planned for April 23.
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John Q. Hosedrinker