Zoo offers up ultimate Valentine’s Day revenge plot using cockroaches

A number of zoos across the world have offered the ultimate revenge plot this Valentine’s Day for all those people left broken hearted by an ex.

Instead of curling into a ball and crying about a failed relationship on February 14, disgruntled men and women could turn the day of love into one of laughter by naming a cockroach after the person who broke their heart.

The Hemsley Conservation Centre in the UK plans to turn tears of sadness into ones of laughter and happiness by getting back at all of the exes out there.

In a post shared back in January, the centre shared details of the program that has offered broken hearted people the opportunity to take a hit at their former partner for just a few dollars. It may seem a little cruel to some, but the zoo claims it’s out of good faith with all money raised going towards helping the much-loved animals in their care.

“Now, for those that don’t quite require revenge, there’s another way to make you feel better about getting back at your ex this Valentine’s Day,” the centre wrote in a post back in January.

“The HCC is offering the chance to name a cockroach in honor [sic] of your, or your friend’s worthless ex “someone” on this special holiday of love.”

The program received much support from disgruntled men and women who all seemed very eager to both support the zoo and take a dig at their ex.

“Best $2 ever spent,” one person commented on Facebook.

“Great idea but I might run out of cash soon,” another added. While a third joked: “After I name it Kevin can you please squash it???”

For those in America, the idea has been taken even further with the El Paso Zoo in Texas organising for cockroaches to be fed to hungry meerkats.

Following in the footsteps of the UK zoo, they wrote in a post: ” What’s the perfect Valentine’s Day gift? Naming a cockroach after your ex of course!”

The zoo then added: “Watch on Facebook Live or on our website’s meerkat webcam on Valentine’s Day at 2.15pm to see them (meerkats) devour these little bugs”.

Though it may seem like fun and games to some, not everyone thinks the idea is something to laugh about.

Hetherington Family Law and Mediation service Untying the Knot lawyer Jennifer Hetherington said the program has the potential to harm children from broken families through bullying. 

“Imagine you child turning up to school on a Monday and their classmates taunting them with insults that your mum or dad is a cockroach,” she explained. “Worse, visiting the zoo on a school excursion and seeing mum’s or dad’s name on a plaque at the cockroach exhibit with their classmates standing right there beside them or watching ‘mum’ or ‘dad’ being fed to a meerkat.”

Instead Hetherington suggested some more kind ways to ease the pain this Valentine’s Day.

“Anyone thinking of naming a cockroach to support a friend who’s gone through a rough relationship breakdown would do far better to just buy them flowers or a self-help book instead,” she advised.

What are your thoughts on the program? Is it something you’d be interested in doing?