Naming Cockroaches After Lovers: Love or Hate... And Deeper Meanings

Valentine's Day-themed 'Bakwui' Event

Locks containing citizens' memories are rusting on the railing of the Namsan Seoul Tower observatory.

As Valentine's Day approaches on February 14, zoos across the United States are eagerly launching 'Name a Cockroach' events. Couples can name a cockroach after their loved one to celebrate their love, or name one after an ex to 'get revenge,' an event that is reportedly gaining popularity.

On the 18th (local time), the Bronx Zoo in New York announced on its official website that it would hold a Valentine's Day commemorative 'Name a Cockroach' event. The zoo plans not only to sell naming rights but also to design and sell various cockroach-themed merchandise.

Why choose cockroaches for a Valentine's Day couple event? The zoo explains the meaning of cockroaches in a somewhat ambiguous way. "Cockroaches (like love) give people goosebumps, and their vitality is almost eternal," the zoo stated on its website.

New York Bronx Zoo offers 'cockroaches named after lovers' to celebrate Valentine's Day [Image source=YouTube capture]

In fact, cockroaches are known to survive in almost every environment on Earth. Since first appearing in the Cretaceous period, they have endured multiple mass extinctions and ice ages. This interpretation suggests that cockroaches are fitting creatures to commemorate immortal love. However, not all zoos have prepared positive cockroach events. The San Antonio Zoo in California recently promoted a charity event themed around cockroaches, where the program offered is to 'name a cockroach after your ex.'

According to the website, customers who recently broke up with their partners can purchase cockroaches or mice named after their exes. There is also an event where vegetables used as animal feed are named after exes. The San Antonio Zoo promotes, "If you name a cockroach, mouse, or vegetable after your ex or someone who is not very special to you, we will feed it to the animals," adding, "Our animals will greatly help you clear out your past and heal your wounds."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.