Watch: US Naturalist Paul Rosolie being swallowed alive by anaconda

Los Angeles:  Discovery Channel's "Eaten Alive" special that pitted snake against man drew more than 4 million viewers, but not all considered it time well spent.

Although the title and a promotional video indicated that naturalist Paul Rosolie would be swallowed by a giant anaconda, Sunday's pre-taped special didn't go that far.

Rosolie, described by Discovery as a conservationist, ended his Amazon jungle encounter with the snake after it encircled his body and began squeezing. Wearing bulky protective gear, Rosolie escaped with a sore arm but uneaten.

Online, some viewers jeered the show for falling short of its promise. The animal rights group PETA said it included "the inexcusable torment" of a wild anaconda and other snakes.

Discovery has said the snake was unharmed, and the channel declined to comment on PETA's criticism.

Watch: Paul Rosolie being swallowed alive by anaconda

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