US zoos bring back 'a cockroach for my ex' fundraisers
A tongue-in-cheek approach to the day filled with chocolates and red roses – zoos in the US are helping the heartbroken get revenge on their exes.
Not everyone is feeling the love this Valentine's Day, and if you need a little amusement to lift your spirits, we've got just the thing.
People across social media are loving the unconventional approach some US zoos are taking to celebrate Valentine's Day.
Both the San Antonio Zoo and El Paso Zoo are rolling out some playful anti-Valentine’s Day activations this year.
Take the El Paso Zoo & Botanical Gardens, for example. Their annual "Quit Bugging Me" promotion is back – it's a fun way to let go of that lingering grudge.
The zoo invites people to submit the names of anyone who has been bugging them, which will be displayed anonymously and randomly during the live stream at feeding time.
While there's no fee to participate, donations are encouraged to support the Paso Del Norte Community Foundation and its mission.
The San Antonio Zoo described their event perfectly, "Back by popular demand, San Antonio Zoo’s world-famous Cry Me a Cockroach Fundraiser lets you symbolically name a cockroach, rodent, or veggie after your ex before we serve them as a tasty treat for the zoo’s residents on Valentine’s Day! It’s the ultimate way to ex-terminate your past and help fund significant wildlife conservation efforts here at the zoo.
Donation levels:
Cockroach: $10 (R185)
Rodent: $25 (R463)
Veggies: $5 (R93)
Watch this lizard devour a rat named after someone's ex – video courtesy of X.
Please note that this is not for sensitive viewers – only heartbroken people are allowed.
POV: Your ex getting what they deserve. 🦎💀
— San Antonio Zoological Society 🦍 (@SanAntonioZoo) February 12, 2025
Name a cockroach (or a rat 🐀) after them for our annual Cry Me a Cockroach fundraiser—then watch it get devoured. 🔥
Tap the link here https://t.co/2odtJ5yodB to make it happen. pic.twitter.com/Dwv59pisom
Some might call it petty, but at the end of the day, the animals still get fed – whether their meal is named after your ex or not. So why not have a little fun while supporting a good cause?
All proceeds from these activations go toward wildlife conservation and the overall upkeep of the zoos. We have to say this is a brilliantly unconvention way way of flipping the script on Valentine's Day.
Tune in to the 'Workzone with Elana Afrika-Bredenkamp', weekdays from 09:00 – 12:00. Stream the show live here or download our mobile app here.
Listen to Jacaranda FM:
- 94.2
- Jacaranda FM App
- http://jacarandafm.com
- DStv 858/ OpenView 602
Image courtesy of iStock