Public asked to help find missing macaws Romeo and Juliet in Encarnación

The Minizoológico Juan XXIII in Encarnación is appealing to the public for help in finding Romeo and Juliet, a pair of scarlet macaws who have been missing for about a week. These urbanized parrots are well-known in the city and typically return to their shelter at the zoo each evening, but they have not been seen for the past seven days, causing concern among their caretakers.

Juliet recently recovered from a wing injury inflicted by unknown assailants on October 23, 2025, apparently with a compressed air rifle in the Kennedy neighborhood. After receiving treatment in Asunción, she returned to Encarnación on March 9 of this year. Initially unable to fly, Juliet gradually regained her flight capabilities with Romeo's support, and the pair once again roamed the city.

Romeo and Juliet, named after the famous literary couple, were raised by a family near the Municipal Pediatric Hospital in the Quiteria neighborhood before being transferred to the Minizoológico Juan XXIII two years ago seeking a better life. The scarlet macaws (Ara chloropterus) were frequently spotted in Encarnación's downtown area, near the Palace of Justice, Villa del Maestro, and heading towards the zoo.

Zoo officials urge anyone with information about the macaws' whereabouts to contact Victoriano Fretes at 0982 388580, Andrés Morel at 0981 286890, or Beto Rivas at 0984 348114. The disappearance of these birds is particularly worrying as scarlet macaws are listed as endangered due to habitat loss, and they are also vulnerable to the exotic pet black market, especially in border regions.