"No one knows exactly when Gramma the Galapagos tortoise was born on that volcanic chain of Pacific islands. What is clear, though, is that she lived through the fall of empires, two world wars, and the tenure of more than 20 U.S. presidents. If the estimated birth year of 1884 is accurate, Chester Arthur occupied the Oval Office and there were only 39 states at the time. It was also the year the Washington Monument was finished, the Statue of Liberty's pedestal cornerstone was set,"
"Gramma, who lived for a century at the San Diego Zoo, died Thursday at 141 give or take, "with her family of wildlife care specialists by her side," the zoo said in a statement to NPR. "She was being expertly supported for ongoing conditions related to her age, and wildlife health and care teams made the difficult and compassionate decision to say goodbye.""
Gramma the Galapagos tortoise had an uncertain birth date but may have been born around 1884, which would place her life across major historical milestones. She spent about a century at the San Diego Zoo after arriving around 1928 from the Bronx Zoo, having been taken from the Galapagos. She died at approximately 141 years old while under expert care; staff made a compassionate decision due to age-related conditions. Experts note Galapagos tortoises age slowly, and that slow biological pace contributes to extreme longevity. Other Galapagos tortoises have lived past 100 and around 130 years.
Read at www.npr.org
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