Some background information on upcoming Discovery Channel Eat Alive? With an anaconda Allen, Hi, this is Stephen Secor at University of Alabama. I am sure by now that you have caught wind of the show “Eaten Alive” that Discovery Channel is planning to air in December. The show depicts an anaconda swallowing an amateur naturalist that has donned a special suit. I don’t know how you feel about this or whether you want to post anything about it in your newsletter. I for one am greatly disturbed by this production and I would suspect that many readers of your newsletter would also be. What I can tell you about it this show comes from my own contact with the producers. They contacted me last December and asked if I would assist with a show on anacondas. My interest quickly vanished when they pitch to me the storyline of a fellow wearing a special suit being eaten by anaconda. I vehemently explained to them that such a show would do more damage than good, and asked why they had not contacted other professional scientists to assist in developing this show. I explained at lengths how a show could be produced that would highlight the amazing biology and physiology of the anaconda, one that is accurate, and would be of interest to both the public and biologists alike. I adamantly told them that I would not participate in any project involving someone being swallowed by an anaconda; however I would work with them on an accurate educational/scientific production. Last March they called me back to talk more about a show that was more scientific and accurate rather than one that was based on a gimmick and sensationalism. However, I did not hear from them again, and had hoped that their original idea had died a quiet death. Unfortunately that was not the case. For the past couple of decades, scientists (including myself) have studied the amazing biology and physiology of large constricting snakes. Our lab has worked on anacondas, and like the pythons, we found them to possess the amazing capacity to widely regulate the performance and structure of their organs and tissues. While this is of great interests to animal physiologists and biologists, it can also hold unprecedented breakthroughs in human medicine. This is why the Burmese python was the first snake to have it genome completed and is being explored for studies in human heart disease and diabetes. Rather than highlighting any of this (which they had the opportunity), the Discovery Channel dropped the ball and has taken the presentation of the natural world to a new low. In addition, as you know, the green anaconda, along with the boa constrictor and reticulated python are being considered as additions to the injurious species list and thus placed under the Lacey Act. While I and others have fought this from the start given that the previous ruling which included Burmese pythons was based on “junk science” publications and reports, I would hate to have this show put the final nail in the coffin for the passing of this ruling that would result in added these species to this list. Besides my own personal concerns and options, there has been significant backlash from the public and scientific community over this show. PETA has announced it as showcasing animal cruelty and there is a petition on the Change.org organized by Ben Paramonte requesting that the Discovery Channel pull the show that already has 15,000 signatures by this morning. In my own conversations with researchers across the country there is a general air of disappointment in the Discovery Channel for what could have been done, and instead dropping to this new low in broadcasting that is only based on exploitation and sensationalism. From my viewpoint, It is just very upsetting that the combined efforts of thousands of hobbyists, educators, and scientists to convince people the amazing biology and unmatched docile nature of snakes is repeatedly being countered by shows like this that promotes people’s fears and ignorance. Just wanted to share my thoughts on the manner in case you were having any discussions about it. My best, Stephen Stephen M. Secor, PhD Professor Department of Biological Sciences University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL 35487 205-348-1809 [email protected]
Posted on: Sun, 09 Nov 2014 00:43:40 +0000
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