Valentine's Day

El Paso Zoo Receives ‘Overwhelming' Response to Cockroach Valentine's Day Promotion

The El Paso Zoo received so many responses to its "Quit Bugging Me" Valentine's Day promotion it had to stop accepting names

The El Paso Zoo in Texas is serving a Valentine's Day special to some of its creatures, and zookeepers hope the ex-lovers of the world will help.

The zoo asked people on Facebook to name a cockroach after their ex. "Message us your ex's name and we'll name a cockroach after them!" the Feb. 4 post read.

Three days later, the zoo posted it had received such a great response, it would "spread the love" to more than just its meerkats. Cotton-top tamarins, golden tamarins and white-headed marmosets will also get to chow down on insects on Valentine's Day.

Finally, on Sunday, the zoo wrote it would have to stop accepting names of exes due to the "overwhelming response" it received for the promotion.

Names will be posted online Monday ahead of a 2:15 p.m. livestream on Valentine's Day, which will inevitably show meerkats and other animals devouring the roaches.

For some, it seems, the request speaks to their deepest, petty desires.

"This made me laugh so hard!" one person commented on the post. "I just got dumped via text message by my boyfriend of 4 years while I am battling cancer. He said it was because I wasn’t making our relationship a priority...um...I am currently focused on saving my life."

"Am I the only one wanting to plan a watch party?" another user asked.

ONLINE: El Paso Zoo's "Quit Bugging Me" offer

The Bronx Zoo in New York has a different take on roaches for Valentine's Day. 

Their website reads, "After the chocolates have been eaten and the flowers wilt, roaches remain thriving and triumphant. Give the gift that’s eternal and Name a Roach for Valentine’s Day."

You can commemorate a love that just won't die for a mere $15.

The hissing cockroaches live in a hollowed out tree trunk inside the Madagascar exhibit of the Bronx Zoo. 

If the naming certificate alone isn't enough to get your sweetheart's tentacles moving, the zoo also offers cockroach beanies, mugs and cockroach lapel pins.

For those looking for a less creepy and more cuddly creature, the San Francisco Zoo in California allows zoo patrons to Adopt-an-Animal for one year.

Their limited edition love bird package for Valentine's Day includes the Magellanic penguin, Chilean flamingo, green-winged macaw or keel-billed toucan. 

Prices range from $50 to $1,000+

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