Let me preface the following by saying that (a) I lived in Texas for 4 years and grew to greatly appreciate its good people, the landscape, and its natural resources; (b) I spend a lot of time observing reptiles and amphibians in the wild - never to harm; (c) I am not a member of PETA or the Humane Society.
Animal Planet has sunk to a new low with this programming. Rattlesnake Republic follows 4 groups of Texas "country gentlemen" as they collect wild rattlesnakes to be killed for profit (skins, trophies, and those horribly cruel rattlesnake roundups that go on in the South, etc).
The vital role that rattlesnakes play in their ecosystem is not mentioned and the snakes are effectively demonized as dangerous nuisances that exist solely for profit. Animal Planet has really missed an opportunity to educate the viewer about these important animals.
The cruel and damaging "Rattlesnake Roundup" was thankfully on its way out due to education of the general public regarding the crucial role that these animals play in ecosystems, but Animal Planet seems intent on breathing new life into this terrible practice.
I sincerely hope that this show gets canceled soon, though AP has renewed it for a second season. I think Discovery/Animal Planet has really lost the plot in recent years. By churning out exploitative, sensationalist tripe like this they're going for the lowest common denominator and putting profit before what some would say is their obligation to inform and educate.
