Did You Know?
Cockroaches spread 33 different kinds of bacteria.
We have a question for you. But first, some facts: As you can probably guess, the Madagascar Hissing Cockroach is found in Madagascar, an island in the Indian Ocean off the southeast coast of South Africa. They usually live in rotting trees and rarely enter people’s homes. They are the world’s largest species of cockroach and can reach a length of 7.6 centimetres. Unlike most other species of cockroach, the Madagascar Hissing Cockroach does not have any wings. They are called Hissing Cockroaches because of the hissing noise they can make when they are trying to defend themselves.
Now you know something about this delightful species of cockroach, what do you think about them? Some people keep them as pets, and when they are kept in captivity they can live for up to five years. Would you like to keep one? Better still, would you like to buy one for someone you love?
It’s a strange question, but it is linked to our story. A few years ago, the Bronx Zoo in New York wanted to find a way to raise money for the Wildlife Conservation Society – the organisation that manages the zoo. They came up with a very interesting and unusual idea.
Within the zoo, they have an exhibition of thousands of Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches. They decided to offer people the opportunity to give a name to a cockroach. Better still, they linked the promotion to Valentine’s Day and invited people to name a cockroach after someone they loved. Surprisingly – or unsurprisingly – this turned out rather well. They received applications from thousands of people who were prepared to pay US$10 for the cockroach naming rights.
It was not such a crazy idea as you may have first thought. Some people took great satisfaction in naming a cockroach after someone they did not like. Some purchased names for their bosses. Others chose to give cockroaches their mother or father-in-law’s name. The promotion was so successful the Bronx Zoo has been running it every year ever since. This year, for an additional payment, you could also purchase a Madagascar Hissing Cockroach made from chocolate to send to someone. How about that?
There are thousands of charities all over the world trying to raise money – often in difficult circumstances – to make sure they can continue their good work. The Bronx Zoo has certainly come up with a unique way of fundraising. But what do you think about being able to name a cockroach after someone you do not like – without that person’s permission?
While you think about that, here are two more facts about cockroaches you should know about:
- Madagascar Hissing Cockroach parents often remain in close physical contact with their children;
- A cockroach can hold its breath for up to 40 minutes.
Name a Roach at the Bronx Zoo:
QUESTION:
VOCABULARY:
