While many individuals might participate in activities like a sponsored marathon or a bungee jump to raise awareness for a cause they care about, one man took a rather unusual route—being consumed by a giant snake.
Wondering who would undertake such a daring act? That would be Paul Rosolie, an American conservationist.
The Amazon rainforest, as you may be aware, is shrinking at an alarming rate, having lost about 20 percent of its territory over the past fifty years.
Despite the grim statistics, there have been some positive developments, and deforestation decreased by nearly 50 percent in 2023, according to a BBC News report from that time.
For a long time, the issue of deforestation has plagued the Amazon, which is why Rosolie dedicated himself to its preservation.
While he has undertaken numerous efforts to aid the cause, one particular act from 2014 stands out and will likely remain in history.
To garner funds for saving the rainforest, Rosolie volunteered to become a meal for a 20ft long, 18 stone (114 kg) green anaconda.
The event was featured in an episode of the Discovery Channel series Eaten Alive, showcasing some unsettling footage.
Rosolie and his crew located the enormous anaconda in the Peruvian Amazon.
To survive, engineers crafted a carbon-fiber suit for Rosolie to prevent him from being crushed by the snake.
The suit was also streamlined and soaked in pig’s blood to avoid irritating the insides of the anaconda.
Rosolie was equipped with a microphone within the suit to keep in constant contact with his team, who remained nearby as he awaited the snake’s consumption.
“The last thing I remember was seeing the snake’s mouth open, straight at my face, and then everything went black,” Rosolie recalled of the terrifying moment.
He later recounted to Today after the experience: “It was like being caught in a wave. I was wrapped up, and you just feel that crush.”
“For over an hour, I was being constricted,” he added.
Throughout the ordeal, Rosolie’s team continuously monitored him to ensure his well-being until he sensed that the snake was truly consuming him, prompting him to call it off.
Following the airing of the episode featuring the stunt, some controversy arose, but Rosolie maintained that the snake was never in jeopardy and that a veterinary team was present to ensure its safety.
It’s safe to say this is not an activity to attempt at home.