WOOT!! just got an emailed copy of a letter written to Paul Rosolie from the guy who created the END EATEN ALIVE petition. It wouldnt let me share it, so I copied it. I did not write this, but if I did, this is EXACTLY what I would want to say. So here it is...... Dear Paul, I have held back from writing to you directly, as I felt that would not really accomplish anything, and likely undermine the boycott of Eaten Alive. I’ve learned over time the truly great work you’ve done, in the trenches of the Amazon, doing everything within your power to save the habitat and wildlife that so desperately needs it. For that, you have my upmost respect. Your goal of receiving funding for much needed anaconda research and habitat conservation is inspiring, and was clearly your mission with Eaten Alive. But by reading your latest article on Mongabay, you approached this as an “ends justifies the means” scenario. I feel the need now to write a response, because it appears you still do not understand why Eaten Alive was so incredibly wrong from the beginning - regardless of the outcome. The online petition to boycott Discovery and Eaten Alive was not created by PETA. PETA had absolutely nothing to do with it, at all. I created it, just one person who finally had enough. While sitting at my desk at work, a Facebook post popped up saying “EATEN ALIVE!”, describing a show about a man who would feed himself to a green anaconda. From one reptile lover to another, can you imagine how I felt seeing this? The animals that bring me so much joy, that I have tried throughout my life to educate people about, were now being presented in the most reprehensible way possible and at risk of serious harm. I was infuriated, and I was not alone. My Facebook feed populated quickly with people who were extremely upset, to say the least. The over 38,000 of us are not only composed of reptile enthusiasts, but the many thousands of non-reptile people who saw this as unnecessary and animal abuse. The Discovery Channel had finally taken things one step too far. It is one thing for the Discovery Channel to lie to the public repeatedly with scientific fraud and promote pseudoscience, but now an animal was being put in a dangerous and hostile situation. The Discovery Channel needed to put on notice, and shamed for what they were doing. And to address the issue, no, I did not feel the need to watch your show before judging it. When you have a program named “Eaten Alive,” promoting a stunt like this, and that is all the advertising suggests, then it should be judged by how it is being publicly portrayed by said television channel. You should not feel surprised or upset by this backlash at all, and really should have expected it. But the main question here: why did I consider this “animal abuse to the highest degree” and feel the need to boycott your program? First, there is the danger this posed to the anaconda. It is known that large snakes such as anacondas, reticulated pythons, burmese pythons, etc, cannot ingest a full grown man. The shoulder width is too large for this to safely occur (and was backed up repeatedly by herpetologists who posted on Facebook and the petition). The only way to get an ingested man out, if this did occur, would either to be regurgitated or have the snake cut open. Regurgitation can be very dangerous to snakes, contrary to your claims in the media. Quite simply, we do not see snakes in captivity regularly regurgitating their food, and there is nothing safe about it. It can cause a multitude of gastrointestinal problems, resulting in infection, internal bleeding, and death. The only species of snake that performs this feat as an integral biological function are egg-eating snakes, which I’m sure you are aware of. There is a reason why those of us who care for these animals recommend immediate veterinary care if it becomes regurgitation becomes a regular occurrence. Therefore, I and many others viewed forcing a snake to do this as animal abuse to the highest degree. Second, look at how the anaconda is being portrayed. To those who are not reptile enthusiasts, all that is seen is a monster hunting a human being - which is not a natural prey item. From what I was told, you covered yourself in pigs blood, and forced a captive (not wild) anaconda into a fight or flight situation. As you know, once a snake bites, it can go into a predatory response mode. The snake struck and constricted you, started eating, and had to regurgitate you. For someone who professed a love for snakes, why would you put the animal in this highly stressful and dangerous situation? Again, this is simply animal abuse, and reinforces negative stereotypes of snakes that are completely unjust. Can an anaconda be dangerous to encounter in the wild? Of course. But as I’m sure you know, and try to promote, these animals are just another essential part of their ecosystem. They should be respected, not feared; appreciated, not hunted. Education about natural history and habitat is key to this, not a ridiculous stunt. Third, I take issue with the idea that someone as intelligent as yourself was so shockingly duped by the Discovery Channel. I have a hard time believing that a show that included such a stunt, on the Discovery Channel in 2014, would not immediately ring alarm bells to you. This is the same channel that created the latest scientifically credible programs about mermaids, megalodon, and bigfoot. And as we now know, you were not the first person contacted to create Eaten Alive. That would be Dr. Stephen Secor, a renowned herpetologist. I do not feel right speaking for him, but suffice to say he shared directly with us that he saw the dangers and unethical goals that this stunt was aiming for, and offered to create an truly educational program instead. When Discovery did not agree, he backed away from them. You can read his story on the petition website. How was he able to discern this so quickly, but not yourself? In addition, you continued to promote this show on TV and related media with much zest. You made witty remarks on Facebook and Twitter promoting and hyping the show, and critiquing those who took issue with you and the program. You asked everyone to tune in and watch this stunt. You also used our petition to spin to your own and Discovery’s benefit, being so enthralled that 38,000 people would come together to help a snake - that was downright insulting. It also seems highly odd that not, until the last few days of promotion, did Discovery start to discuss habitat conservation in the Amazon. It clearly looked like a response to the immense backlash and shaming that this show received in the media over those passing weeks. And to be honest, what if something went wrong - what if YOU were killed or severely injured? What good would that have done in raising awareness for these animals and their habitat? Some of things I have wrote here may be a bit harsh, and this is not intended to discredit you or your previous work. I have not worked in the Amazon, published books, or received awards. I am just another person who loves and cares about reptiles. You obviously are dedicated to habitat conservation and the wildlife that lives there. And you clearly love reptiles too. But please take a second to think about what I’ve wrote. Look at my Facebook photo vs your promotional one for Eaten Alive. Do you see the clear contradiction, and the message that it sends? Think about those of us who promote the education and conservation of reptiles daily, just by living with them in our homes or part of our field of work. Not everyone can work in the Amazon or dedicate their lives so fully (which as I said, you have my upmost respect). We are hobbyists, researchers, and some are just those with budding interests. Most are affectionately known as “the snake guy/girl” in their familiar circles. We never shy away from talking about how reptiles are fascinating, hesitate to discuss the uniqueness of their biology, or just how much they enrich our lives. Quite a few of us are critical to the captive breeding success of these animals, many species for the first time ever. They are keeping populations of many species simply in existence, and allowing so many to bring these awesome animals into their families’ and friends lives. Think about the educator who brings a python into a grade school classroom, where many of these children will meet and interact with a snake for the very first time. We are all working together and inspiring those around us to care about reptiles, and because of this, many of the planets other less-loved species that need protection. That is what education and creating a new generation of passionate conservationists is all about. And that’s the core problem with “Eaten Alive.” It undermines all of this. The respect, understanding, and appreciation for these animals has once again been whittled away. So now you have stated your case, and I have stated mine. I do not want or expect a response to this letter, and I will not issue any replies. I do not wish to get into an argument or battle of words, because ultimately, the damage has already been done. I truly wish you the best of luck to you and your research with anacondas, because it is sorely needed. I’m quite aware of the lack of research on these and other large boids, and it is wonderful you’ve received funding and are being published. However, in the future please take the points of this letter to heart, and always look to the late, great, Steve Irwin for inspiration in the conservation of wildlife. “I believe that education is all about being excited about something. Seeing passion and enthusiasm helps push an educational message.” - Steve Irwin Sincerely, Benjamin J. Paramonte Thanks for reading!!!
Posted on: Mon, 29 Dec 2014 15:47:45 +0000
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