This zoo will name a cockroach after your ex, then feed it to a meerkat on Valentine’s Day
By Sophie Lewis
/ CBS News
Looking to get yourself a present this Valentine's Day? The El Paso Zoo has you covered. It will name a cockroach after your ex and then feed it to a meerkat live on camera.
You can message the zoo on Facebook with your ex's name, then wait patiently for February 14 to watch the roach get devoured during the "Quit Bugging Me" meerkat event, which will live-stream on Facebook and the zoo's website. The names of those exes will also be displayed around the meerkat exhibit and on social media starting February 11. The zoo calls it "the perfect Valentine's Day gift."
"This is a fun way to get the community involved in our daily enrichment activities," El Paso Zoo event coordinator Sarah Borrego told CBS News. "The meerkats love to get cockroaches as a snack and what better way to celebrate Valentine's Day than by feeding them a cockroach named after your ex!"
What's the perfect Valentine's Day gift? ❤️ Naming a cockroach after your ex, of course! Message us your ex's name and…
Posted by El Paso Zoo on Monday, February 4, 2019
The El Paso Zoo isn't the only zoo offering a non-traditional Valentine's Day promotion. The Hemsley Conservation Center in Kent, England, will name a cockroach after your ex in exchange for a donation. You can also name a roach at the Bronx Zoo, which calls them "eternal" and "timeless" gifts.
First published on February 6, 2019
© 2019 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Zoo offers revenge on your ex for Valentine’s Day
What better way to get revenge on your ex than by naming a cockroach after them and feeding it to a meerkat?
updated 4M ago
Virginia AG admits to dressing in blackface as a student
Mark Herring dressed as the rapper Kurtis Blow as a 19-year-old college student
updated 44M ago
Trump says seizure of "100 percent" of ISIS territory should be announced soon
The president said there will always be "sick" and "demented" people, and ISIS will still likely hold "tiny sections"
updated 34M ago
Woman details alleged sexual assault by Virginia lieutenant governor
Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax has repeatedly denied allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman in 2004
updated 2M ago
Trump's remarks on probes are “nonstarter” says Adam Schiff
Schiff announced new parameters of the panel's Democrat-led Russia investigation
1H ago
Virginia AG admits to dressing in blackface as a student
Mark Herring dressed as the rapper Kurtis Blow as a 19-year-old college student
updated 44M ago
Trump says seizure of "100 percent" of ISIS territory should be announced soon
The president said there will always be "sick" and "demented" people, and ISIS will still likely hold "tiny sections"
updated 34M ago
Woman details alleged sexual assault by Virginia lieutenant governor
Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax has repeatedly denied allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman in 2004
updated 2M ago
Trump's remarks on probes are “nonstarter” says Adam Schiff
Schiff announced new parameters of the panel's Democrat-led Russia investigation
1H ago
Without more federal funds, 1.4M Puerto Ricans will face food aid cuts
"This isn't money that Puerto Rico is using for some vanity project. … It's literally money for the most basic of needs"
1H ago
2018 was one of the warmest years on record
The next five years could be even hotter than 2018, which was already near record territory
1H ago
VP: "No question" U.S. was headed toward North Korea confrontation
President Trump will meet with Kim Jong Un for a second summit later this month
2H ago
VP: U.S. will be "prepared to strike back at ISIS" after withdrawal
In December, Trump claimed ISIS was defeated and announced a plan to withdraw troops from Syria
2H ago
Ex-CIA chief's biggest concern about Trump-Kim summit
President Trump has tried to downplay North Korea's national security threat, despite continued efforts to advance their nuclear program
3H ago
Could Venezuela showdown lead to one between U.S. and Cuba?
Vicki Huddleston said the two countries' previous leaders, Fidel Castro in Cuba and Hugo Chavez in Venezuela, forged a close relationship
4H ago
"NCIS" teases return of beloved character
The teaser trailer dropped during the Super Bowl, but fans will have to wait until February 12 to see if Ziva is really coming back
1H ago
Bradley Cooper "embarrassed" about Oscars snub
"A Star is Born" received eight nominations, but Cooper is disappointed about the one he didn't get – best director
4H ago
R. Kelly deletes tweet about tour
Some Twitter users expressed anger over the tour announcement – and then it vanished
4H ago
More than 1M Patriots fans celebrate team's 6th Super Bowl win
New England Patriots and more than 1 million fans celebrated the team's victory in a celebratory parade down the streets of Boston
20H ago
Oscars aim for "brisk" 3-hour show without a host
The Academy Awards will officially forgo an emcee after Kevin Hart pulled out amid controversy
21H ago
2018 was one of the warmest years on record
The next five years could be even hotter than 2018, which was already near record territory
1H ago
Snap reports record revenues, but struggles to add users
Struggling social media company gets a badly needed boost in growth, while its losses narrowed
22H ago
Dinosaur that used spiny back to defend itself found in Patagonia
The new species of dicraeosauridae, christened Bajadasaurus pronuspinax, was revealed in scientific journal Nature
Feb 5
Facebook messenger rolls out unsend feature
After Facebook came under fire for letting Mark Zuckerberg alter message history, it gave all users an "unsend" option
Feb 5
What happened when I asked Alexa and Google Assistant for my data
As smart home devices become increasingly popular, concerns about data collection aren't going away
22H ago
New moms hit especially hard by opioid crisis
Research shows new mothers with opioid use disorder are at a higher of overdose due to lack of resources, shame and stigma
1H ago
Pet owners report dog deaths from recalled food
While one company is facing rash of unhappy consumers, it's one of at least 10 that distributed potentially toxic food
updated 59M ago
Dad travels to Canada for son's medicine that would cost $53K in U.S.
In his State of the Union address, President Trump said his next major priority is lowering the cost of health care and prescription drugs
3H ago
Study reveals top reason people use medical marijuana
More than 30 states now allow marijuana for dozens of health problems if a doctor approves
23H ago
7 steps for heart health may also help with diabetes
New research shows these lifestyle habits can significantly reduce the risk of both heart disease and diabetes
Feb 5
Fisher-Price recalls Barbie Campers sold at Walmart due to injury risk
About 44,000 of the pint-sized pink vehicles need repair as wheels may continue to run after foot pedal released
updated 22M ago
The Green New Deal is about to get real
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez says rewiring the nation's energy system can create millions of jobs while helping the planet
1H ago
Pet owners report dog deaths from recalled food
While one company is facing rash of unhappy consumers, it's one of at least 10 that distributed potentially toxic food
updated 59M ago
Latest U.S. trade gap falls on China slowdown
America's trade deficit falls to lowest level since June, as global sales from China — from cars to cellphones — slow
4H ago
GM's 2018 profit jumps, will hire 1,000 at Flint pickup plant
The healthy earnings will mean profit-sharing checks of $10,750 each for 46,500 union workers
7H ago
Man accused of kidnapping Jayme Closs appears in court
Jake Patterson faced a judge in person for the first time
3H ago
Suicide texting trial: The case against Michelle Carter in the death of Conrad Roy
The groundbreaking trial of a crime of the digital age — should a young woman go to prison for sending texts to a friend who took his own life?
4H ago
Officer won’t face charges in fatal mall shooting
Family of EJ Bradford, Jr. describes him as a "hero," decries "cover up" by Alabama attorney general
3H ago
Sandusky to be re-sentenced for child molestation conviction
Jerry Sandusky lost a bid for a new trial Tuesday, but a Pennsylvania appeals court ordered him to be re-sentenced for a 45-count child molestation conviction
22H ago
Nurse accused of assaulting patient pleads not guilty
Nathan Sutherland is accused of raping a patient at Hacienda HealthCare
Feb 5 Original Article