Zoo’s ‘Cry Me a Cockroach’ Fundraiser Launches for Valentine’s Day
January 25, 2021 - San Antonio
The San Antonio Zoo fundraiser, which runs from Jan. 19 through the entire month of February, allows donors to name the cockroaches and rats after exes before they are fed to the zoo’s animals. Courtesy Image: San Antonio Zoo
By: Ricardo Delgado - Staff Intern, San Antonio Sentinel
The San Antonio Zoo’s second annual “Cry Me a Cockroach” fundraiser returns for the 2021 Valentine Day’s season to bring donors a small measure of closure or consolation, all while caring for the zoo’s animals.
The fundraiser, which runs from Jan. 19 through the entire month of February, allows donors to name the cockroaches and rats after exes before they are fed to the zoo’s animals. Over 5,000 donors in 25 countries and 2,000 cities donated to rename the rats and roaches, which are a normal part of the everyday diet for the zoo animals and critical to the food chain says Zoo President & CEO Tim Morrow.
“We are very excited to be bringing this incredibly popular fundraiser back this year," Morrow said. "Cry Me a Cockroach gives guests not only the opportunity to forget someone who may have wronged them but also a direct link to the care of our animals.”
The San Antonio Zoo is planning several new events for local singles aged 21 and above. Guests can participate in multiple games including adult animal trivia. Courtesy Image: San Antonio Zoo.
Naming a cockroach or vegetable costs $5, while a rat will set a donor back $25. This year, the funds will go towards an improved jaguar habitat and overhead catwalk trail. The funds will also aid in providing a new vegetarian option for the herbivores of the zoo.
The zoo also plans to host a new event for local singles age 21 and older called “Meet Your Next Ex” where guests will participate in mating games to include adult animal trivia, best mating call or dance, and unique animal interactions, all while partaking in exotic cocktails. The event is slated to take place on Feb. 13.
Additionally, the zoo offers “VIP tours” for those seeking a “more intimate experience”. In the “Naughty by Nature” and “Drive You Wild” adult-only tours, guests will “discover the romantic ways of wildlife,” with the latter providing adult beverages, sweets and more souvenirs.
Naughty by Nature will take place Feb. 13 and 14 from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and costs $86 per person. Drive You Wild takes place on the same dates but at different time slots; three different slots are available at 7, 8 and 9 p.m., each lasting 40 minutes for $69 dollars a person. Admission to the zoo is separate and required for entry for Naughty by Nature, but not for Drive You Wild.
Finally, the “Wild at Heart Dining Experience” allows guests to eat while observing and learning about the zoo’s two hippos, Uma and Timothy, during a brunch or dinner session, both with VIP options. Admission to the zoo is not included in brunch entries.
For more information on pricing and the zoo’s safety measures, visit the San Antonio Zoo’s website at sazoo.org.
Ricardo Delgado transferred to Texas State University at San Marcos to study journalism and minor in political science. He expects to graduate in the spring of 2021. Email him at reporter@sasentinel.com