The international animal-loving community is saying goodbye these days to Gramma, the famous giant tortoise of the Galapagos who lived for nearly a century at the San Diego Zoo in California. The zoo has confirmed her death at an estimated age of 141, making her one of the longest-living residents and a symbol of endangered species conservation.
Affectionately known as “The Queen of the Zoo”Gramma was much more than an emblematic animal: her presence marked several generations of visitors, caretakers and wildlife experts, who saw her grow old while the world changed around her with wars, pandemics and technological advances.
A Galapagos tortoise that made history for almost a century
As the San Diego Zoo explained on its official profiles, Gramma passed away on November 20th After a long period of bone problems associated with his advanced age, the veterinary team, after months of monitoring and evaluations, made what they described as a "compassionate and exceptionally difficult decision": to euthanize him to prevent suffering.
The center recalls that, for decades, the turtle was a discreet but constant presence in one of the world's most famous enclosures. Zoo officials describe her as a "beloved icon" and an "extraordinary ambassador for her species," a way of highlighting the role she has played in raising awareness about the plight of giant tortoises on the Ecuadorian islands.
The exact date of birth of Gramma, who came into the world in her natural habitat, It is not known preciselyExperts estimate that it could have reached an approximate age of 141 years at the time of its death, based on historical records and its arrival at various zoos at the beginning of the 20th century.
Its history is closely linked to the evolution of the San Diego Zoo itself. It arrived at the zoo between 1928 and 1931, as part of the first group of Galapagos tortoises which was added to the center's collection. Some reports indicate that it had previously been at the Bronx Zoo in New York, from where it was transferred to California during those years.
From then on, his life became intertwined with that of the zoo: those in charge of the institution emphasize that his career “covers almost the entire history of the center itself”, and that his figure has become a thread that unites workers, volunteers and visitors throughout generations.
The “Queen of the Zoo”: an icon for millions of visitors
Throughout his long life in captivity, Gramma earned the nickname “queen of the zoo” by her keepers and the public alike. Her calm and reserved nature, combined with her imposing size, made her one of the biggest attractions for children and adults who came to see the giant tortoises up close.
The recollections of visitors who are now grandparents illustrate the impact it had. Many people share on social media that They met her as children and returned years later with their own children to show them the same tortoise that had marked their childhood. For many, it was almost a ritual to visit its enclosure on every trip to the zoo.
The center's staff insist that caring for her was "a privilegeIn the statements released after his death, they emphasize that Gramma had very specific tastes: he especially enjoyed romaine lettuce, cacti, and various fruits, foods that were part of their carefully controlled diet.
Their presence was also felt in the way they interacted with the public. Although it is now prohibited, some veteran visitors remember arriving to ride on the shell of giant turtles when they were children, a practice that in past decades was seen as normal and that is now considered incompatible with animal welfare.
The zoo points out that, over the years, the turtle went from appearing in old black and white photos to become a highly followed figure on social media, where her images and videos accumulated thousands of interactions and comments from fans all over the world.
A life that spanned wars, pandemics, and historical changes
Gramma's extraordinary age allows us to appreciate the number of events she silently witnessed. Zoo officials recall that, during her lifetime, the world saw many things happen. two world wars, the administration of 20 US presidents and at least two global pandemics, in addition to the technological transformation of the last century.
Without abandoning its leisurely routine, the tortoise witnessed the expansion of the San Diego Zoo itself, the professionalization of conservation programs, and the shift in mindset regarding captive animals, increasingly focused on welfare, education and protection of endangered species.
Beyond historical anecdotes, its longevity places it among the small group of large reptiles that have reached very advanced ages. Experts recall the case of Harriet, another Galapagos tortoise who died in 2006 in an Australian zoo at about 175 years old, considered one of the oldest recorded.
In the case of Gramma, its existence unfolded entirely in zoological centers for much of the 20th and early 21st centuries, which has allowed for the collection of a considerable volume of data about it. diseases associated with agingNutrition and management of very long-lived individuals, valuable information for the care of other specimens.
Their story, told time and again by guides and educators, has also served to bring the European and Spanish public closer to the reality of the Galapagos tortoises, a species that, although living thousands of kilometers away, has become a global symbol of the fragility of ecosystems insulars.
The delicate state of the Galapagos tortoises and the conservation work
Gramma's departure has rekindled interest in the situation of giant tortoises in their natural environment. These species, exclusive to the Galapagos archipelago, have suffered a sharp reduction in their populations Since the 18th century, when they were captured en masse by sailors, buccaneers and whalers who used them as food during long voyages.
Organizations such as the Galapagos Conservancy and Ecuadorian authorities point out that, currently, Most subspecies are in a vulnerable or critically endangered stateAccording to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), three of them are already considered extinct.
Among the greatest current threats are poaching, habitat destruction and fragmentation, and the introduction of invasive species that compete for food or they prey on eggs and young. Added to this are the risks associated with climate change, which alters the availability of resources on islands of limited size.
Faced with this situation, captive breeding and reintroduction programs have intensified in recent decades. Releases on the islands have been underway since the mid-1960s. more than 10.000 young turtles, an effort that has allowed the recovery of some populations that were on the verge of disappearing.
Zoos play a complementary role in this strategy. Centers in the United States and Europe participate in coordinated breeding and environmental education programs. In 2024, for example, The Philadelphia Zoo announced the birth of four cubs Galapagos tortoises with centenarian parents, and other enclosures, such as the Miami Zoo, have recorded cases of reproduction in specimens over 130 years old.
Gramma as a global ambassador for Europe and the world
Although Gramma lived in the United States, her story has resonated particularly strongly with the media and public in Europe and Spain, where stories of great longevity and emblematic species tend to generate considerable interest. Her case serves as... reference in educational programs of numerous European zoos and interpretation centers dedicated to island biodiversity.
In Spain and other European countries, news of their death has been used to explain in an educational way why these turtles reach such extraordinary ages, how their welfare is managed in captivity, and what is being done internationally to to protect Galapagos populations in their natural environment.
Gramma's trajectory fits with the trend of many European zoos that have reoriented themselves from an exhibition-centric model towards one more focused on the conservation, research and disseminationAlthough large collections of Galapagos tortoises are not common in Europe, there is interest in collaborating through scientific programs and awareness campaigns.
Indirectly, stories like hers help reinforce the message that species conservation is not just a local issue, but a global effort in which institutions from several continents They share information, resources, and strategies to save animals that, like giant tortoises, take decades to reach maturity and reproduce slowly.
The image of that turtle, which witnessed generations of visitors, wars, crises, and advances pass by, while calmly strolling around its enclosure in San Diego, has become a very graphic reminder of the contrast between the accelerated pace of human life and the timescale in which many long-lived species operate.
What makes these giant turtles so special?
The giant tortoises of the Galápagos Islands are remarkable not only for their size but also for their unique biology. They can easily live over 100 years in the wild and, under optimal conditions of care in captivity, approach almost double that figure, as demonstrated by documented cases in zoos in several countries.
Their slow metabolism and ability to store large reserves of water and nutrients allow them to survive long periods without food or drinkThis is a key adaptation on islands where resource availability varies greatly between seasons. Paradoxically, this characteristic was one of the reasons why they were so heavily exploited by sailors in past centuries.
In the wild, their diet consists mainly of vegetation: leaves, grasses, fruits, and various species of cacti. In zoos, this diet is precisely adjusted to ensure their health, combining leafy greens, cacti and fruits with regular veterinary check-ups to prevent deficiencies or problems arising from excess weight.
Their slow pace of life, combined with their ability to outlive several successive caregivers, means that many of these animals become authentic “witnesses” of history of the centers where they reside. Every change of facilities, every improvement in welfare protocols or every new conservation program is, in some way, associated with these large reptiles.
For all these reasons, it's no surprise that the death of an animal like Gramma has generated an outpouring of messages of affection and remembrance. In her case, the San Diego Zoo has symbolically invited fans to share a fruit salad In his honor, a simple gesture that sums up the accumulated affection for a turtle that seemed to have no end.
The disappearance of Gramma closes a unique chapter in the history of Galapagos tortoises in captivity and leaves behind a legacy of education, science and environmental awarenessHis life, which has lasted for more than a century, has served to bring millions of people closer to a species that still needs protection today and that, thanks to coordinated efforts in America, Europe and other parts of the world, has a greater chance of surviving in the long term.