Gramma the Galapagos tortoise, oldest resident of San Diego Zoo, dies at about 141

www.nbcsandiego.com ^ | November 25, 2025 | Jaimie Ding

[Red Badger]

After more than a century of munching on her favorite foods of romaine lettuce and cactus fruit, beloved Galapagos tortoise Gramma, the oldest resident of the San Diego Zoo, has died.

Gramma was born in her native habitat and was estimated to be about 141 years old, zoo officials said. She died Nov. 20.

It's not clear exactly when the tortoise arrived at the San Diego Zoo, but zoo officials said she came from the Bronx Zoo in either 1928 or 1931 as part of their first group of Galapagos tortoises.

As the world changed around her, she delighted visitors with her sweet, shy personality. She lived through two World Wars and 20 U.S. presidents.

Her care specialists affectionately called her “the Queen of the Zoo." She was suffering from bone conditions related to her old age that progressed recently before she was euthanized, the zoo said.

Many visitors commented on social media about getting to first visit Gramma when they were young, and being able to come back years later with their kids.

Cristina Park, 69, said one of her earliest memories from her childhood was going to the San Diego Zoo when she was 3 or 4 years old and riding on the back of a tortoise. That's no longer allowed, but the experience inspired her to keep a small desert tortoise as a pet and learn more about tortoise conservation.

[Governor Dinwiddie]

Bittersweet news. Gramma is looking down on us from tortoise heaven.

[digger48]

Nancys first pet

[Revel]

Newsome is responsible. /sarc

[Nervous Tick]

>> estimated to be about 141 years old

How do they know? Cut one of her legs off and count the rings?

[Right_Wing_Madman]

That's impressive. She witnessed Queen Victoria's funeral and lived through 13 popes.

[Lauren BaRecall]

She was one of the 140 year olds collecting Social Security. RIP.

[mass55th]

That’s about Nancy Pelosi’s age too, right?

[Bullish]

Aww shoot! Just when he was getting good.

[21twelve]

Well, the tortoise did out last Neil Peart of RUSH.

“I’d rather be a tortoise from Galapagos
Or a span of geological time
Than be living in these dog years”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cgp6_jJnrO8

[BradyLS]

She was one of the 140 year olds collecting Social Security. RIP.

I can believe it.

[SaveFerris]

(and was estimated to be about 141 years old)

Well of course it had to be estimated...

She got a COLB from HDOH too?

😄🤣🤣😜😝😛

[SaveFerris]

December 6, 1884: Washington Monument completed.

Gramma the Galapagos tortoise and
Nancy Pelosi both attended the
ribbon cutting ✂️✂️✂️ ceremony

Oh wait, that was February 21, 1885.

My bad 😬😬😬

[Omnivore-Dan]

“count the rings?” Well yes, but not by cutting off their legs. A box turtle (actually a tortoise) is like a smaller version of a Galapagos tortoise and their are rings in it’s shell. Check this out: https://theturtlehub.com/how-to-determine-box-turtle-age/

[BipolarBob]

Did she get ran over by a reindeer?

[Omnivore-Dan]

I was wrong! Oh, no! I made a mistake! I hate myself! Seriously, box turtles are not tortoises although they are also land dwelling like tortoises. But the ring counting on portions of the shell probably still applies.

[Nervous Tick]

>> “count the rings?” Well yes, but not by cutting off their legs.

Very cool! I learned something and the day has only begun. Thank you!

[EQAndyBuzz]

“Nancys first pet”

Grammas first child was McConnell. The resemblance was uncanny.

[SunkenCiv]

Sidebar from 1966: [snip] A turtle which explorer Captain Cook gave to the King of Tonga in 1777 died yesterday. It was nearly 200 years old. The animal, called Tu'imalila, died at the Royal Palace Ground in the Tongan capital of Nuku, Alofa. The people of Tonga regarded the animal as a chief and special keepers were appointed to look after it. It was blinded in a bush fire a few years ago. Tonga radio said Tu'imalila's carcass would be sent to the Auckland Museum in New Zealand. [/snip] -- Reuters, via Phillip K. Dick's "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep."

[Mastador1]

The zoo is holding a dinner o celebrate Gramma’s life, the soup is courtesy Gramma😱