An animal rights group has urged Crystal Palace to immediately retire their live bald eagle mascot, stating that a lively stadium packed with loud supporters is unsuitable for wildlife.
According to BBC Sport, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) sent a letter to Palace CEO Sharon Lacey requesting that the Premier League club halt the use of the eagle, named Phoenix, during pre-match routines at Selhurst Park and permanently abandon live animal mascots.
The London club adopted the nickname the Eagles in 1973 and brought a live eagle to matchdays in 2010. Kayla served in the role for a decade until her death in 2020, and her successor Phoenix debuted against West Ham in August 2024.
Peta explained that stadium atmospheres can cause birds to become frightened, disoriented, and panicked, which endangers both the animals and supporters.
The organisation added that utilizing these creatures for entertainment deprives them of fulfilling natural instincts to avoid humans, resulting in frustration and stress.
The group noted it possesses detailed records of incidents where live mascots, including birds, suffered injuries or death from colliding with walls, windows, and match balls.
Another cited incident involved a falcon embedding its talons into a spectator’s scalp after landing on his head. Additionally, a Charlton Athletic fan was convicted in 2017 of attempting to punch Kayla the eagle during a League Cup match two years prior.
Dr Carys Bennett, Peta’s senior corporate projects manager, stated that numerous professional sports teams rely solely on willing humans as mascots, pointing out that the club already employs Pete the Eagle to energize supporters.
She added that bald eagles are universally acknowledged as symbols of freedom and deserve better treatment than being reduced to entertainment props for the team’s fans.
Source: BBC Sport
