Animal rights organisation People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has urged Crystal Palace to permanently retire its live bald eagle mascot, Phoenix, arguing that football stadiums are unsuitable environments for animals because of the noise, bright lights and large crowds.
The organisation has written to Crystal Palace chief executive Sharon Lacey, asking the Premier League club to end Phoenix’s appearances at Selhurst Park and commit to never using live animal mascots again.
PETA maintains that the matchday atmosphere can leave birds frightened, disoriented and distressed, while also creating potential safety risks for spectators.
Crystal Palace, nicknamed the Eagles since 1973, introduced its first live eagle mascot, Kayla, in 2010. The bird became a familiar part of the club’s matchday experience, with appearances involving interactions with supporters and flights across the stadium before matches.
Kayla died in 2020 after a decade associated with the club. Her successor, Phoenix, was introduced to supporters in August 2024 ahead of a Premier League fixture against West Ham United.
Phoenix was four months old at the time of her introduction and was presented to supporters alongside her handler. The eagle is based at the Eagle Heights Wildlife Foundation in Kent, where she was prepared for her role as Crystal Palace’s official live mascot.
However, Phoenix’s appearances have not followed the same pattern as those of her predecessor. Plans for her to fly across the pitch before kick-off were reportedly abandoned, and she has not become a regular presence at Selhurst Park.
PETA senior corporate projects manager Dr Carys Bennett argued that using a live eagle for football entertainment fails to respect the bird’s natural behaviour and exposes it to an unnecessarily stressful environment.
The organisation also questioned why Crystal Palace needed a live animal mascot when the club already has a human mascot, Pete the Eagle, to entertain supporters and contribute to the matchday atmosphere.
According to PETA, stadium environments can be particularly challenging for birds because of sudden noises, intense lighting and the unpredictable behaviour of large crowds.
The group also cited incidents involving live animal mascots at sporting events, including birds colliding with walls and glass windows, as well as a case in which a falcon reportedly landed on a spectator’s head and injured him with its talons.
The organisation further referenced an incident involving Kayla during a League Cup match between Crystal Palace and Charlton Athletic in 2015. A Charlton supporter was subsequently found guilty in connection with an attempt to punch the eagle during a period of crowd trouble.
For PETA, the incidents illustrate the potential dangers of bringing live animals into crowded sporting venues, where unexpected movements and disturbances can place both animals and spectators at risk.
The group also argued that eagles naturally travel across large territories and generally avoid close contact with humans. Keeping them in controlled environments for public displays, it said, can prevent them from engaging in their natural behaviours and potentially contribute to stress and frustration.
Bennett maintained that bald eagles should not be treated as entertainment props, particularly when clubs can create an exciting matchday experience without involving live wildlife.
Crystal Palace had not publicly responded to PETA’s request at the time of the reports. The club was contacted for comment, while the Eagle Heights Wildlife Foundation had also been approached for information about Phoenix’s welfare.
The debate extends beyond English football. Portuguese club Benfica also features a live bald eagle, Águia Vitória, in its matchday traditions, demonstrating how the use of birds as sporting mascots has become part of the identity of some European clubs.
For Crystal Palace, the issue presents a question of balancing tradition and club identity with concerns about animal welfare and public safety.
The eagle has long been associated with the south London club, and its live mascot has helped reinforce that identity for supporters. Nevertheless, PETA’s intervention has renewed scrutiny of whether live animal displays remain appropriate in modern football.
The organisation’s position is clear: Crystal Palace should preserve its Eagles identity without requiring a live bird to perform before thousands of spectators.
Whether the club will reconsider Phoenix’s role remains uncertain, but the campaign has placed the welfare of live sporting mascots firmly back in the spotlight.
