PETA Urges Crystal Palace To Retire Live Eagle Mascot Over Animal Welfare Concerns
Animal rights organisation People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has called on English Premier League club Crystal Palace to immediately retire its live bald eagle mascot, Phoenix, arguing that football stadiums are unsuitable environments for animals.
In a letter to the club’s chief executive, Sharon Lacey, on Wednesday, PETA urged Palace to stop using live animal mascots and adopt alternatives that do not expose wildlife to potentially distressing match-day conditions.
Crystal Palace, nicknamed the Eagles since 1973, introduced a live eagle mascot in 2010 as part of its match-day tradition. The first bird, Kayla, served for a decade before dying in 2020, while Phoenix made her debut against West Ham United in August 2024.
PETA argued that the bright stadium lights, deafening noise and energetic crowds could leave birds frightened, disoriented and panicked, potentially endangering both the animals and spectators.
The organisation also maintained that using eagles for entertainment restricts their natural instincts and can cause stress and frustration.
To support its campaign, PETA cited previous incidents involving live animal mascots, including birds injured or killed after colliding with walls, windows and footballs. It also referenced an incident in which a falcon sank its talons into a fan’s scalp.
In another case, a Charlton Athletic supporter was convicted in 2017 of attempting to punch Kayla during a League Cup match.
PETA’s Senior Corporate Projects Manager, Dr Carys Bennett, argued that Crystal Palace could maintain its match-day atmosphere without relying on a live bird.
“Many professional sports teams use only willing humans as mascots, and the club already has Pete the Eagle to excite the crowd,” Bennett said.
She added that bald eagles, widely recognised as symbols of freedom, deserved better than to be used as entertainment props for football supporters.
The campaign puts the spotlight on the use of live animals in sporting events, with PETA urging Crystal Palace to embrace a mascot tradition that prioritises animal welfare while preserving the club’s identity and connection with its fans.
