But the ignorance defense doesn't quite hold up. A few weeks ago, a biologist wrote a detailed note on the restaurant's Facebook page raising concerns that the tarantulas were not legally obtained, specifically citing the price as a source of suspicion. "Professionally, I’ve always fought for the sustainable use of wildlife for different purposes, so in no way am I scared that you buy, kill, cook, and sell tarantulas. I’m even curious to try them," he wrote (translation ours).Good afternoon, indeed PROFEPA [Procuraduría Federal de Protección al Ambiente, or “Federal Environmental Protection Agency”] went to the premises and advised me in terms of documentation and took the tarantulas because, at the time, I did not have the documentation. Unfortunately, I haven’t taken the time to go get the tarantulas back with the proper documentation. However, that doesn’t mean that I’m not working legally. These days I will go to PROFEPA with the documentation and will make it public for your knowledge, and for my part I will stop selling [the tacos] until I resolve everything with PROFEPA. Thank you.
He goes on to express concern that the restaurant is complicit in a larger black market for this particular species, which is a popular, although illegal, pet stateside (truly this world contains multitudes). It's unclear if México en el Paladar will be slapped with any sort of punitive action but if all this talk of tarantulas is making you hungry, might we suggest learning to make your own?But I was seriously concerned when I saw that the cost of the taco is 500 Mexican pesos, which tells me that the variety you sell most likely come from illegal capture, since no specimen of the size you show and assure come from a hatchery would have that ridiculous price. Which is why I would like to kindly request that you show us (although you’re not obligated) the documents that guarantee the legal origin of the specimen and indicate the registration number of the hatchery.