This Valentine’s Day, the Orientarium Zoo in Łódź is offering heartbroken individuals a chance for symbolic revenge: name a cockroach after your ex and, for the right price, watch it get eaten.
The zoo’s campaign, running under the slogan “A cockroach for your ex”, lets participants assign their former partner’s name to one of its Madagascar hissing cockroaches. But for those seeking a more satisfying closure, an upgraded option includes photographic evidence of the moment the insect meets its fate—or even the chance to personally feed it to a meerkat.
A Playful (and Petty) Take on Heartbreak
The campaign has two pricing tiers:
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- 150 zł (about $38): The zoo sends participants a digital certificate confirming the cockroach’s new name, along with a photo capturing the moment the insect is devoured by one of the zoo’s animals.
- 300 zł (about $76): Participants can go a step further and personally feed a cockroach to a meerkat under the supervision of zoo staff.
“We know that Valentine’s Day isn’t joyful for everyone. Some people are going through breakups or have had bad experiences with love. This campaign is a humorous way to let go of the past while supporting the zoo’s conservation efforts,” said zoo spokesperson Tomasz Jóźwik.
A Viral Sensation
Since its announcement, the campaign has gone viral, with social media users embracing the concept. Some view it as a perfect (and harmless) act of revenge, while others appreciate its comedic twist on the holiday.
“I just paid to have a meerkat eat my ex. Best money I’ve ever spent,” joked one participant on Instagram. Another wrote, “If pettiness was a sport, this would be an Olympic event.”
While the campaign mainly targets those looking to move on from past relationships, some participants are using it to name cockroaches after bad bosses, former friends, or even disliked celebrities. The zoo has clarified that name submissions must adhere to general decency guidelines.
A Growing Trend in Zoos Worldwide
Zoos around the world have introduced similar initiatives in recent years, with facilities in the U.S., U.K., and Australia launching cockroach-naming-for-exes programs. However, Łódź Zoo’s twist—allowing participants to actually see their ex’s namesake be eaten—sets it apart.
This is not the first time the Łódź zoo has introduced unconventional ways to engage visitors. In previous years, the zoo has hosted Valentine’s Day-themed events showcasing the romantic behaviors of different animal species.
For those interested, the campaign runs throughout Valentine’s Day, with name submissions open via the zoo’s official website.
Whether it’s taken as a joke, an emotional release, or an act of lighthearted vengeance, the initiative has struck a chord—one cockroach at a time.
