The San Diego Zoo is in mourning following the death of its oldest and perhaps most regal resident, a Galápagos tortoise named Gramma, who was estimated to be 141 years old.
After more than a century of captivating visitors with her sweet and shy nature, Gramma was euthanised on 20 November due to age-related bone conditions that had recently progressed, according to zoo officials.
A Century of Life and Legacy
Gramma's incredible lifespan meant she lived through monumental world events, including two World Wars and the terms of 20 US presidents. She was so cherished by her care team that she was affectionately known as “the Queen of the Zoo.”
Originally from her native habitat, her journey to San Diego began when she arrived from the Bronx Zoo in either 1928 or 1931, becoming part of the zoo's inaugural group of Galápagos tortoises. For decades, she delighted generations of visitors, often becoming a nostalgic touchstone for families.
On social media, many shared memories of first seeing Gramma as children and then returning years later to show her to their own sons and daughters.
The Enduring Giants of the Galápagos
Galápagos tortoises are renowned for their longevity, often living for over a century in the wild and nearly double that in captivity. The record is held by Harriet, a tortoise that lived to be 175 at the Australia Zoo before her death in 2006.
These magnificent creatures, however, face significant threats. The species comprises 15 subspecies, three of which are extinct. The remaining are classified as vulnerable or critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Thankfully, concerted conservation efforts are underway. Organisations like the Galápagos Conservancy have bred these tortoises in captivity, releasing more than 10,000 juveniles into the wild since 1965, successfully pulling some subspecies back from the brink of extinction.
Recent successes include the birth of four baby Galápagos tortoises at the Philadelphia Zoo in April to first-time parents who are roughly 100 years old, and Zoo Miami's 135-year-old resident, Goliath, becoming a first-time father in June.
A Personal Connection to Conservation
For many, an encounter with a tortoise like Gramma was a life-changing event. Cristina Park, 69, recounted one of her earliest childhood memories: visiting the San Diego Zoo at three or four years old and riding on the back of a tortoise.
While such interactions are no longer permitted, the experience ignited a lifelong passion. “It inspired me to keep a small desert tortoise as a pet and learn more about tortoise conservation,” Park said, reflecting on the animal's resilience. “Just how amazing it is that they managed to live through so much. And yet they’re still there.”
Gramma's long life serves as a powerful testament to the success of zoo-based conservation and a poignant reminder of the fragility of the natural world she represented.
