Eaten Alive (TV program)

Eaten Alive was a 2014 American nature documentary television special that aired on the Discovery Channel on December 7, 2014. The program purported to show naturalist Paul Rosolie being "eaten alive" by a green anaconda.

The special generated significant controversy and advance publicity due to its provocative title and premise. Animal rights groups and many viewers criticized the program, questioning its scientific value and ethical implications, claiming it sensationalized animal behavior and potentially harmed the anaconda.

The program itself revealed that Rosolie was not actually "eaten alive." Instead, he donned a custom-built carbon fiber suit designed to protect him from the anaconda's bite and constriction. The anaconda constricted around him but did not fully ingest him. Rosolie called off the encounter after feeling excessive pressure on his arm, fearing it would break.

The stated goal of the program was to raise awareness about the destruction of the rainforest habitat of anacondas and other wildlife in the Amazon. However, the emphasis on the sensationalistic element largely overshadowed this conservation message. The program received overwhelmingly negative reviews from critics and viewers alike.