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 Galápagos 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.
nbcnews on November 25th, 2025 at 18:14 UTC »
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 Galápagos 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.
OreoMoo on November 25th, 2025 at 18:22 UTC »
When people aren't sure when you got there, you know you're old.
purljacksonjr on November 25th, 2025 at 18:26 UTC »
Oldest resident in all of San Diego I'd say