Naturalist Paul Rosolie claims he did the controversial stunt to raise awareness about rainforest habitat destruction.
- Nov 13, 2014
AceShowbiz - "Eaten Alive" star Paul Rosolie has justified his decision to film the Discovery Channel special. In a new statement released by the network, the naturalist claims his goal with the controversial stunt is to save the Amazon Rainforest and all its living creatures.
"I've seen first-hand how the Amazon Rainforest is being destroyed," he says. "It is so rampant that we may be the last generation with the opportunity to save it. People need to wake up to what is going on. What better way is there to shock people than to put my life on the line with the largest snake on the planet, the Green Anaconda?"
"Eaten Alive" which is scheduled to air December 7 at 9 P.M. will feature Rosolie, whom Discovery Channel describes as "snake researcher and conservationist... who has dedicated his career to studying the Giant Green Anaconda," entering the belly of the 25-to-27-foot snake while wearing a custom-built snake-proof suit.
The network says that the carbon fiber outfit was built to withstand 90psi, the highest measured force of an anaconda constriction, and "the equivalent of having a large school bus on one's chest." The channel adds that the suit "was built to ensure the snake's safety just as much as it was to protect Rosolie's life," assuring that the snake survived the encounter.
After Discovery Channel announced the special, PETA launched a protest and demanded the network to pull the show. "This blatant publicity stunt sounds far-fetched, but if the description is accurate, the snake was tormented and suffered for the sake of ratings," the group stated.
PETA explained, "Anacondas go days without eating and expend the energy needed to do so selectively. Making this snake use up energy by swallowing this fool and then possibly regurgitating him would have left the poor animal exhausted and deprived of the energy that he or she needs."
