Crystal Palace urged to retire live bald eagle mascot

Animal rights organization PETA has called on Premier League club Crystal Palace to immediately retire its live bald eagle mascot, Phoenix. In a letter to CEO Sharon Lacey, the group argued that a stadium environment filled with loud fans is unsuitable for animals, noting that birds can become “frightened, disoriented and panicked” in such settings.

PETA further requested that the London-based club cease using live animals as mascots entirely. The organization cited concerns regarding animal welfare, stating that using wildlife for entertainment denies them the ability to engage in natural behaviors, leading to stress and frustration. They also referenced historical risks, including incidents where mascots were injured by collisions or faced aggression from spectators.

Crystal Palace has used live eagles since 2010. The previous mascot, Kayla, served for ten years before dying in 2020. The current mascot, Phoenix, is based at the Eagle Heights Wildlife Foundation in Kent.