Remembering gramma: the 141-year-old galápagos tortoise who witnessed a century of environmental change

Gramma, a beloved Galápagos tortoise who recently died at the San Diego Zoo at an estimated 141 years old, lived through more than a century of dramatic environmental transformation. When she hatched on one of Darwin’s famous islands, tens of thousands of giant tortoises still roamed the volcanic landscapes of the Galápagos. Her remarkable lifespan offers a living testament to both the resilience of these ancient creatures and the devastating impact of human activity on their species.

Born into a world already depleted by human exploitation, Gramma’s early years coincided with the tail end of centuries of systematic harvesting. Sailors had long prized Galápagos tortoises as “walking barrels of fresh meat” – creatures that could survive months in ship holds without food or water, providing sustenance for long ocean voyages. Crews would drag these gentle giants across jagged volcanic rock and stack them alive in dark cargo spaces, while their rendered fat served as lamp oil. This seemingly endless abundance made conservation an afterthought until populations had already crashed.

Gramma’s own journey exemplified this troubled history. Taken from her native islands, she passed through the Bronx Zoo before arriving in California around 1930, where the San Diego Zoo became her permanent home. For over 90 years, she traded volcanic rock for concrete, wild vegetation for predictable meals, and the vast Pacific horizon for curious visitors who marveled at her age. Zoo children would learn she was older than their grandparents – older, in fact, than the institution itself. Her death marks the end of a direct link to a wilder Galápagos, reminding us of both what we’ve lost and our responsibility to protect what remains.