Naming cockroaches after exes, feeding them to El Paso Zoo meerkats is back for Valentine’s Day – but with a twist

EL PASO, Texas -- It's a Valentine's Day tradition in El Paso and it will be back again this year, but with a twist that expands the event to a whole new level.

Last year, the El Paso Zoo allowed former lovers to get revenge by naming cockroaches after their exes, and then feeding 'em to the zoo's meerkats as a Valentine's Day meal.

Zoo officials said the concept was so popular that they received 6,000 entries of names last year. Most of the names apparently came from women who included both their ex’s name and the name of the person their ex cheated on them with.

Zoo officials announced they will also be collecting donations with a special incentive. El Paso Zoo Director Joe Montisano will eat a cockroach for every $1,000 raised.

Last year the zoo collected more than $3,000 in donations, and received more than 7,000 name submissions.

The roaches will be fed to the animals at the Zoo on Valentine’s Day and on Saturday, February 15, and Sunday, February 16. The zoo will also live stream the event on its Facebook page.