Anaconda eats alive man - A new Discovery channel program, which promises to show a wildlife expert being swallowed by a wild anaconda, has sparked a wave of controversy.

Since trailers of the new 'Eaten Alive' show were broadcasted, 'anaconda eats alive man' has been widely discussed on multiple online platforms.

Many commentators have expressed concerns about the potential dangers of attempting a stunt where an anaconda eats a live man. But the program has been recorded and both the animal and the stuntman seem to be doing alright.

Wildlife expert and filmmaker Paul Rosolie, who is the man eaten by the anaconda, has Twitted to assure concerned viewers that no harm came to the animal during the filming of the show.

"If you know me - I would never hurt a living thing," he writes.

Rosolie was wearing a custom-built protective suit and allegedly had pig blood smeared all over his body to make the animal interested in swallowing him.

Anacondas are regarded as one of the largest and most dangerous snakes in the world. Adult anacondas can measure between 16 ft to 22 ft long. This mythic animal, which lives in the swampy forests of South America, feeds on its preys by constricting them and - if it is near the swamp - drowning them at the same time.  Anacondas consume various types of large animals, including crocodiles.

Experts say an anaconda can easily overpower and swallow a human being. Many commentators have expressed concerns over the impact of the TV stunt on the health of the animal. Although large reptiles, like anacondas, can regurgitate what they've swallowed, this usually takes a long time due to their long bodies. It is unclear if Rosolie was pulled of the belly of the animal with a rope - as many critics claim. It is also unclear how he was able to get the animal to swallow him without constriction.

I guess we'll get the answers to these questions when we watch as the anaconda eats a live man on December 7.