San Diego Zoo's oldest resident, a Galapagos tortoise believed to be about 141, dies

The oldest resident of the San Diego Zoo has died, far outliving anyone who ever cared for her, guaranteed.

Galapagos tortoise Gramma was born in her native habitat and was estimated to be about 141 years old at her death, zoo officials said. She died on Thursday.

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 its 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.

Gramma was part of a typically long-lived species. They can live for more than 100 years in the wild, and close to double that in captivity. (San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance/The Associate