‘Name a Cockroach after your ex’ returns at Chicago Zoo

This Valentine’s Day, Chicago’s Brookfield Zoo is giving visitors a chance to get back at an ex in the quirkiest way possible. The zoo has relaunched its popular ‘Name a Cockroach’ program, letting anyone name one of their Madagascar hissing cockroaches after a former flame. For a $15 donation, participants can immortalize that un-special someone in their life by giving their name to one of the six-legged residents of the Hamill Family Play Zoo.

The package comes with a personalised certificate of naming, which can either be kept as a private memento or shared with the person in question. The zoo is also highlighting each newly christened roach on the Cockroach Naming Board, displayed outside the play zoo, giving the public a chance to see just how many exes have been turned into insects this year. The board will be officially unveiled on Valentine’s Day, making it the perfect mix of fun, mischief, and charity.

Participants have until 5 p.m. on February 5 to submit their donations and name a roach, ensuring that all names are included in the special Valentine’s display. Organisers say the event is a light-hearted way to fundraise for the zoo while giving visitors an unconventional way to mark the holiday. Over the years, the program has drawn attention not just for its humour but also for its unique approach to supporting animal care and conservation efforts.

Zoo staff encourage people to be creative with their submissions but also to remember that the program is meant to be fun and friendly, celebrating the joy of giving back to wildlife even if your love life has been a little messy. The initiative has become a seasonal tradition, attracting both locals and tourists, and this year promises to be just as memorable as past events.

Whether it’s a playful jab at a former partner or a quirky gift to a friend, naming a cockroach at Brookfield Zoo offers a mix of laughter, sentimentality, and support for the animals that call the zoo home. It’s Valentine’s Day like no other, and all for a good cause.