Furtastic Series Banner

Zoo lets you name a snake after an ex, just in time for Valentine's Day

Since you've possibly been calling them a snake anyway.
 By 
Johnny Lieu
 on 
Zoo lets you name a snake after an ex, just in time for Valentine's Day
Get a snake named after your ex. Credit: Getty Images

You might already describe an ex as a snake. So why not name a reptile after them?

An Australian zoo has launched a competition where you can do just that, allowing for a brown snake named after your former lover as its top prize.

The competition run by Wild Life Sydney requires entrants to explain why their ex deserves it, and also donate to its conservation fund, which aims to help Australian native wildlife by funding research and educational programs.

The zoo's general manager, Mark Connolly, said in a statement that the competition could give "someone unlucky in love ... something else to celebrate on Valentine’s Day this year."

If you win, not only do you have a snake named after your ex, you get a zoo annual pass to visit the snake. The winner will be announced on Valentine's Day.

Of course, this idea of naming exes after reptiles and insects has been around before.

The San Francisco Zoo launched a program back in 2015 for people to name a whole suite of creepy crawlies (including a scorpion and a cockroach) after jilted lovers, while the Bronx Zoo did the same with its Name-A-Roach program.

Topics Animals

Mashable Image
Johnny Lieu

Mashable Australia's Web Culture Reporter.Reach out to me on Twitter at @Johnny_Lieu or via email at jlieu [at] mashable.com

Mashable Potato

More from Furtastic

Recommended For You
Stephen Colbert mocks Trump's weird Valentine's Day email
Stephen Colbert presents The Late Show.

Best Valentine's Day gifts for her: How to skip the clichés without skipping the romance
Ninja Slushi, potted heart-shaped succulents, book-themed vases with flowers, and Dyson Supersonic Nural hair dryer arranged in collage

Can we digitise Valentine's Day?
Young couple taking a selfie on a couch

Amazon has curated its top 100 Valentine's Day gifts. Here are our 10 favorites from the list.
LEGO flower bouquet and box, burgundy Keurig, Kindle Paperwhite with pink case, red heart-shaped Le Creuset cast iron dish, pink Bose wireless earbuds, and red wireless Xbox controller arranged on pink, orange, yellow, and white backdrop


Trending on Mashable
NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 3, 2026
Connections game on a smartphone

Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 3, 2026
Wordle game on a smartphone

What's new to streaming this week? (April 3, 2026)
A composite of images from film and TV streaming this week.

NYT Strands hints, answers for April 3, 2026
A game being played on a smartphone.

Google launches Gemma 4, a new open-source model: How to try it
Google Gemma
The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
These newsletters may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!