In 2014, conservationist and adventurer Paul Rosolie attempted a daring and controversial stunt: to be eaten alive by a giant green anaconda. His goal was to raise global awareness about the destruction of the Amazon rainforest, a region he had studied and explored for years.
To protect himself, Rosolie wore a specially engineered carbon fiber suit equipped with cameras and an oxygen supply. The suit was designed to withstand the pressure of the snake’s powerful coils and allow him to breathe while inside the snake.
During the filming of the Discovery Channel special Eaten Alive, Rosolie provoked the anaconda to strike, and the snake began to coil around him, squeezing with incredible force. As the pressure increased, Rosolie experienced severe pain and difficulty breathing. Realizing the danger, his team quickly intervened and pulled him out before the situation turned fatal.
Although he wasn’t actually swallowed, the experience was intense and frightening. Rosolie later admitted to feeling immediate regret but stood by his decision, saying the stunt succeeded in sparking global conversations about conservation.
The experiment received mixed reactions. Supporters praised his commitment to raising awareness, while critics questioned the ethics of putting both himself and the snake at risk. Rosolie stated that his team took precautions to ensure the animal wasn’t harmed.
In the end, the stunt—however extreme—drew attention to the urgent need to protect the Amazon and the unique wildlife it supports.
