 Enter Emilio Malucci, whose farm in central Thailand's district houses about 9,000 of those snakes. He moved there from Italy with his family more than 40 years ago as little success convincing people to take up snake meat. Most of which he produces is either discarded or goes to fish farms. He says, it's a complete waste. I eat my snakes because I know what they eat and I raise them, he said.