People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) formally requested that Crystal Palace retire Phoenix, an American bald eagle that serves as the Premier League club’s live mascot at Selhurst Park.
Animal Welfare Group Demands Retirement of Selhurst Park Mascot
The animal rights organization addressed a letter to Crystal Palace chief executive Sharon Lacey, arguing that the loud and crowded environment of a football stadium causes stress, disorientation, and panic in the bird. “Bald eagles are revered as symbols of freedom, but Phoenix is being used as little more than an accessory to entertain fans,” Dr. Carys Bennett, a representative for the organization, stated in the correspondence.
PETA pointed to prior stadium incidents involving birds, documenting instances where raptors suffered injuries after colliding with walls and windows. The group also highlighted a 2015 incident when a supporter of Charlton Athletic was convicted after attempting to strike Kayla, a previous raptor, during a fixture.
From Malcolm Allison Era to Phoenix’s Premier League Debut
The tradition linking the south London club to these birds dates back to 1973, when manager Malcolm Allison altered the team’s historic nickname. Live pre-match flight exhibitions at the stadium did not begin until 2010 with the introduction of Kayla. Kayla performed pre-match flights across the pitch for a decade until her death in 2020 at the age of 28 following a cardiac arrest.
Following Kayla’s death, the club introduced Phoenix. Raised at the Eagle Heights Wildlife Foundation in Kent, Phoenix made her official debut in August 2024 against West Ham at just four months old.
Crystal Palace Suspends Eagle Flights Amid PETA Criticism
Despite the wildlife foundation maintaining that the young eagle was prepared from birth for this role, pre-match flight exhibitions scheduled for the current Premier League campaign have been suspended preventively. The club has not issued public explanations regarding the suspension of the flights.
PETA contrasted the use of live protected species with traditional human mascots, emphasizing that Crystal Palace already employs a costumed entertainer to rally supporters at Selhurst Park. As of publication, neither club executives nor representatives at the Kent sanctuary have responded to the formal requests submitted by the organization.
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🦅 PETA URGES CRYSTAL PALACE TO RETIRE EAGLE MASCOT PHOENIX!Animal rights organisation PETA has urged Crystal Palace to stop using its live bald eagle mascot, Phoenix, citing animal welfare and spectator safety concerns.PETA argues that the bright lights, deafening noise and… pic.twitter.com/txXuyCGONM
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