In Mexico City's Sonora Market, white-fronted parrots, a protected species, are openly sold for 2,500 pesos (US$125) without legal documentation, while the New San Lázaro Market offers endangered Mexican axolotls for 800 pesos (US$40) and red-kneed tarantulas for 250 pesos (US$12). Market operators employ "hawks" who aggressively monitor for inspectors or people documenting illegal activities, creating an environment where protected species are sold openly despite their status under Mexican law and international conventions, demonstrating how public markets remain hubs for wildlife trafficking despite legal prohibitions.