MrBeast Survived Snake Island. Could You?

Most of us will never encounter a real-life scenario in which we tangle with crocodiles, get bitten by venomous snakes, or eat zebra testicles — and we’re not complaining! Instead, we can watch all of these things and more on TV or streaming platforms like YouTube. Both regular people and animal experts have gone up against wild animals in nature or for a game show, with nothing between them but an armor of their own bravery.

From experienced documentarists like Bear Grylls to YouTube content creators like MrBeast, facing deadly snakes or uncaged lions is all just another day at work. Others experience wildlife in a much more low-stakes way, although just as scary for those afraid of slimy or creepy-crawly creatures.

If you love seeing people brave it out around wild animals, we’ve compiled a few of our favorite shows available for streaming. These shows are full of entertainment and might just give you a leg up if you ever do encounter a snake or other unpredictable creature in the wild!

Naked and Afraid

There’s nothing more vulnerable than being naked with a complete stranger — except, of course, when you are thrust into an extreme environment for 21 days and forced to figure out a way to survive. The largely male-female duos on Discovery’s “Naked and Afraid” must find water, food, and shelter to survive the conditions in this gripping reality series.

There have been many noteworthy moments over the series’ 18 seasons, especially as the contestants have to survive against wild animals. In season 2, a woman named Sabrina eats the meat from a severed bird head she found on the ground, per TV Insider. Then, she is rushed to a Bolivian hospital as she experiences severe abdominal pain. Go figure.

The contestants have also faced visits from lions, crocodiles, and other wild animals during their 3 weeks in the wild, but some of their most realistic dangers come from painful bites and stings from insects and spiders. Cheat Sheet recalled a time when Charlie Frattini appeared on the spinoff “Naked and Afraid XL,” where he got dengue fever from a mosquito bite. Another time, a producer almost lost his foot due to a fer-de-lance snake bite.

Stream “Naked and Afraid” on Max or watch new episodes on Discovery.

You vs. Wild

British adventure Bear Grylls has faced off against unbelievably challenging environments, taught survival skills, and encountered a variety of wild animals in his life. His documentary-style reality series “
“Man vs. Wild” catapulted him to fame, but it wasn’t until his new Netflix series “You vs. Wild” that scared him the most.

“We were in this deep, dark, flooded ravine. We knew we had this big, maybe eight-foot boa constrictor in there. They’re incredibly dangerous and unpredictable,” Grylls told The Sun in 2021. “Once they wrap, you can’t breathe or move, and if it takes you down you’re in big trouble.”

Apparently, even the safety team was worried for Grylls. “I had two safety guys nearby, but they were on edge about doing it. They said, ‘If this thing gets you underwater you’ll be in trouble, fast,’” he recalled.

“I got in, couldn’t touch the bottom, and suddenly I felt that thing grab me and start pulling me down. Then it got a grip around my neck,” he said about the boa constrictor.

“It caught me out. I hadn’t anticipated how fast, powerful and heavy it would be,” he continued in The Sun article. “Every time I surfaced I saw the guys giving me the thumbs-down rescue signal, but I said no. And then, just as it was squeezing me tighter, I thought, ‘Oh no, actually I’m running out of breath here’. It was terrifying and very intense.”

Grylls added, “I’ve never been so scared in my life. But like all these things, they happen fast and they don’t last very long. I managed to break free.”

Stream “You vs. Wild” on Netflix.

MrBeast

YouTuber MrBeast (born Jimmy Donaldson) is a billionaire, most famous for his wild challenges where he awards people with money if they can win his unhinged challenges. Often, he is the one doing the challenges, and he hasn’t shied away from encounters with wildlife.

In a March 2025 video titled, “I Survived the 5 Deadliest Places on Earth,” MrBeast hangs out on an island infested with snakes, swims with wild sharks, and attempts to sleep in a cage overnight as wild lions encircle him.

According to LadBible, MrBeast and his crew were very protected during the trip to Snake Island, wearing special shin guards to protect against snake bites and being joined by local researchers who have made antidotes from snake venom collected on the island.

Check out MrBeast’s other wild videos on YouTube.

Human vs. Hamster

Not every video where humans challenge animals is risky. Some are just plain fun! Like “Human vs. Hamster,” a Max original game show where teams of humans compete against teams of hamsters for cash prizes.

This light and funny show, produced by Chip and Joanna Gaines, has humans participating in funny events, like running in human-sized hamster wheels, going up against hamster mazes, and more, while hamsters show them how it’s done in hamster-sized versions of the games. There’s no danger to be found here unless you count the utter humiliation of being publicly bested by a hamster.

Stream “Human vs. Hamster” on Max.

I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here

It’s not unusual to see celebrities face off against wild animals in “I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here.” This reality series, hosted by Julia Morris and Robert Irwin, sees celebrities attempting to survive in the jungle as they raise money for charity. They sometimes go up against animals, like being surrounded by snakes in the Viper Room, or eating interesting animal parts to survive, like zebra testicles.

One reporter for Pedestrian detailed her experience on the show, and although it seems scary, it all seems very safe. For example, when they had to stick their hands in a mystery box and as things like eels, snakes, fish, lizards, rats, and cockroaches crawled around them or when they had to eat disgusting foods. According to the outlet, the crew tests everything for safety before subjecting the celebrities to it. Additionally, a safety team is on set at all times.

Watch “I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here” on Apple TV.

The Crocodile Hunter

Probably the most well-known and iconic shows of human vs. animal is “The Crocodile Hunter,” hosted by the late Steve Irwin and his wife Terri Irwin. The series, the highest-rated show on Animal Planet, ran from 1996-2004 and showed Irwin interacting with a variety of wildlife in Australia, including — of course — crocodiles.

Watching Steve care and respect animals, fearlessly tackle crocodiles, and encounter other deadly creatures on the show will never get old. He was truly an inspiration, risking his life (and eventually dying from complications of a stingray sting) to protect the wonderful creatures who we share the earth with.

Watch “The Crocodile Hunter” on Apple TV.