Premier League side Crystal Palace have been urged by animal rights organisation Peta to immediately withdraw their live bald eagle mascot from matchday entertainment. In a letter sent to Palace Chief Executive Sharon Lacey, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals demanded that the club halt pre-match displays involving their eagle, named Phoenix, at Selhurst Park and commit to never fielding live animal mascots in the future, arguing that a "bright stadium filled with boisterous fans is no place for animals."
Highlighting welfare issues, the campaign group asserted that stadium environments can leave birds "frightened, disoriented and panicked," creating hazards for the animals as well as supporters. Peta noted that utilising creatures that "would naturally avoid humans" for entertainment denies them their natural instincts, resulting in "frustration and stress." The group cited records of live mascots being killed or injured in collisions with match balls, walls, and windows, in addition to an incident where a falcon drove its talons into a spectator's scalp. They also referenced a 2017 court case in which a Charlton Athletic supporter was convicted of trying to punch Palace's previous eagle, Kayla, at a League Cup match held two years prior.
Crystal Palace, who were initially nicknamed the Glaziers before rebranding as the Eagles in 1973, first incorporated a live bird into their home matches in 2010. Kayla held the mascot role for 10 years until her death in 2020. Her successor, Phoenix, was introduced to the Selhurst Park pitch in August 2024 when she made her debut against West Ham.
Urging the south London side to transition away from live animal displays, Dr Carys Bennett, Peta's senior corporate projects manager, pointed out that many sports clubs rely entirely on human mascots, reminding Palace that they already have Pete the Eagle to engage supporters. Dr Bennett stressed that bald eagles represent celebrated symbols of freedom and argued they deserve better than functioning as an entertainment prop for the club's fans going forward.