What started as a relaxing outing for two beloved pet birds turned into a nightmare for Raphael and Rose Lopez of Peekskill. Their bonded pair of Sun Conure parrots, Mango and Piña, went missing on July 19 near Lake Mitchell in Depew Park. Two weeks later, only Piña has returned and the search for Mango continues under troubling circumstances. 

“They’ve been together since birth,” Raphael Lopez told Peekskill Herald. “We’ve had them since they were seven weeks old. This is the first time they’ve been separated.”  

Wanting to give Mango and Piña some fresh air, the couple brought them to the lake in a new travel cage. While adjusting a perch, both birds managed to escape.  

“They both launched their way outside and flew to a nearby tree,” Lopez recalled. “We spent hours trying to get them down, but they kept going deeper into the woods. Eventually, it got too dark, and they stopped responding.”

Two days later, a call came from a woman in Haverstraw, across the Hudson River. She had found a bright orange and yellow parrot in her backyard. 

“She sent me a picture, and I knew it was Piña by her wings, her face, everything,” Lopez said. “When we met, she flew straight to my neck and then to my wife’s head. There was no question of if it was her.”  

Unfortunately, the celebration was short-lived as Piña’s return only emphasized the absence of Mango, her inseparable companion. “At first, you could see it on her face. She was sad, looking at the bottom of the cage like she was searching for Mango,” Lopez said. “Now we leave her with our Quaker parrot, just to keep her distracted.”  

On July 23, a photo of a parrot resembling Mango appeared in a Facebook group based in Gardiner, a town in Ulster County. The post drew over 100 comments, many urging the finder to contact the Lopezes. 

“I knew immediately that it was Mango. She looked dehydrated, exhausted, just like Piña did when we got her back.” Lopez said. 

The situation quickly took a confusing turn. According to Lopez, the woman who posted the photo claimed to have “found the rightful owner” — a man who claimed the bird as his own and named him “Tango.” When the Lopezes asked to see the bird in person, or introduce him to Piña to confirm recognition, they were denied.

“We said, ‘Just let us see how he reacts.’ After five years together, they’d know each other,” Lopez explained. Soon after, the other party claimed the bird had died from unknown causes. 

“The photos they sent us of the deceased bird didn’t match. One had clipped wings. Mango never had his wings clipped. Another had blue on their shoulder, Mango doesn’t,” Lopez said. 

The Lopezes now fear someone may be unknowingly —or intentionally— keeping Mango. 

“We’ve called the police, lawyers, everyone tells us, ‘it’s just a bird,’” Lopez said. “No, he’s not. He’s family.” 

Despite setbacks, the Lopezes remain committed to bringing Mango home. They’ve contacted animal rescues, shared fliers across Peekskill, and remain active on social media. Anyone with information is encouraged to reach out using the contact details listed on local flyers or community Facebook pages. 

“We just want the chance to know the truth and bring Mango home,” says Lopez.