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A man once tried to let a giant snake eat him on live television. Though he instantly regretted it, he has now revealed his reasons behind the daring stunt.
The Unbelievable Attempt
Conservationist Paul Rosolie, along with a team of ten, ventured deep into the Amazon rainforest to track down a massive 20-foot-long, 18-stone anaconda. These snakes are some of the most intimidating creatures in the wild.
To the shock of viewers watching the Discovery Channel’s Eaten Alive?, Rosolie covered himself in pig blood, wore a custom black armored suit, and approached the enormous snake “on all fours.” His goal? To be partially consumed by the predator.
While many questioned his sanity, Rosolie explained that his actions carried an urgent message about conservation.
Preparing for the Stunt
The daring attempt, filmed in 2014, required thorough preparation. Rosolie’s team spent weeks locating a suitable anaconda. To ensure his survival, engineers designed a one-of-a-kind carbon-fiber suit.
The suit came equipped with built-in cameras, a radio microphone, and special mechanisms to protect him. It was specifically designed to withstand the immense pressure of the snake’s constriction, its primary hunting method.
To lure the snake, the suit was coated in pig blood, mimicking the smell of prey.
The Harrowing Experience
As the snake began constricting him, Rosolie used a radio to communicate with his team. For over an hour, he endured the crushing pressure while his visibility and hearing were severely limited.
Thankfully, a medical team, veterinarians, and even his wife were standing by to ensure the safety of both Rosolie and the anaconda.
Describing the experience later, Rosolie said:
“My heart was pounding. The last thing I remember was seeing the snake’s mouth open straight at my face. Everything went black, and I felt like I was caught in a wave. The snake wrapped around me, and I could feel the crushing force.”
A Lifelong Passion
Rosolie first fell in love with the Amazon’s extraordinary wildlife at age 18 during his first visit. Since then, he has devoted his life to protecting the environment, working in countries like Indonesia, Brazil, India, and Peru.
Through this stunt, Rosolie aimed to shift people’s views about anacondas and draw attention to the Amazon’s conservation crisis.
In an interview with Today, he explained:
“It started when I watched the rainforest being burned. I felt frustrated that others weren’t as passionate about it as I was.
“I wanted to do something that would grab people’s attention. People have tried everything else. I’ve been working there for years, watching this incredible habitat get destroyed.”
Raising Awareness
Rosolie hoped the dramatic stunt would highlight the urgent need to protect the Amazon rainforest and inspire global conservation efforts.
While opinions differ on whether the stunt achieved its goal, it undeniably brought worldwide attention to the destruction of the rainforest and its wildlife.
