US Zoo Lets You Name A Cockroach After Ex, Then Feeds It To Animals

As Valentine’s Day unfolds, grand gestures of love dominate the scene, but not everyone is in a celebratory mood. For those nursing heartbreak or holding grudges, the San Antonio Zoo in the US has brought back its unusual yet wildly popular initiative, allowing people to name a frozen rodent, cockroach, or vegetable after an ex or an "unforgettable" someone.

Cyle Perez, spokesperson for the San Antonio Zoo, shared that this unique event, which began in 2020, has "snowballed" into a viral sensation. In 2024, it raised nearly $250,000 (£199,000) in donations from the heartbroken and the bitter. 

The event’s popularity isn't just limited to the US, as it has attracted global participation. "Part of the event's 'uniqueness' is that it allowed the zoo to 'invite people all over the world to contribute' to their mission." For the zoo, it's more than just a playful revenge tactic, it’s a fundraiser that helps support animal care and conservation efforts. 

Valentine's Day: Name A Cockroach After Ex, Feed It To Animals In US Zoo

As per the website of the zoo, the donations costing from $5-$25 will be non-refundable and will be directly going to aid the San Antonio Zoo's mission of 'securing the future of wildlife' with the unique fundraiser.  

Once an individual makes a donation, submitting the name of their ex-partner to the website the users will also be sent a digital Valentine's Day card to mark their support to the fundraiser. This initiative helps donators not just to cope with heartbreaks but also send a card to their ex to let them know that a living being named after them has been devoured by an animal.

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'Cry Me A Cockroach' Fundraiser:

The zoo that claims to be offering the fundraiser every year to the attendees has also given multiple options to choose from - to feed an animal their ex-named insect, animal, or a veggie. It has also given options to not kill a living being but spay or neuter even the feral cats before leaving them back to their colonies. 

A participant in the fundraiser can opt for a $5 veggie option that will be fed to the vegetarian animals of the zoo, $10 for cockroaches which are claimed to be specially bred to feed animals and a $25 for pre-frozen rodents that are sourced from a mouse farm and are stored at nutrition centre of the zoo before feeding them to animals. 

For $150 the zoo will also send you a video of your chosen option named after your ex has been fed to the animals of the zoo which can be sent to the exes as a Valentine's gift as well. 

'Neuter Your Ex':

The fundraiser is not just about feeding the animals but has more twisted ways of 'Neuter your ex'. A pet adoption centre in New Jersey has also launched a Valentine's special fundraiser of 'Neutering your ex'. 

The Instagram post of the organisation read that a participant can donate $50 to the shelter and name a feral cat after their ex and can have their 'ex-neutered!'

Under its programme 'Trap-Neuter-Return' (TNR) where the cat will be spayed before sending the cat back to their colonies. 

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The director of the zoo, Cyle Perez said to have managed to collect 8000 donations from 30 different countries for the fundraiser last year and now they aim to break the records of last year for animal well-being and securing wildlife. 

Moving On At What Cost?

The fundraiser is certainly unique and attention-grabbing, which can spark conversations and raise awareness about the zoo's work. For some people, this fundraiser offers a lighthearted and humorous way to deal with past relationships or negative feelings. It can be cathartic to symbolically "move on" from an ex in a playful way.