Peta urges Crystal Palace to retire live eagle mascot Phoenix

Animal rights group Peta has asked Crystal Palace to stop using its live bald eagle mascot, Phoenix, at matches, arguing that the stadium environment can frighten and stress birds. The club has not commented in the BBC report. [1]

In a letter to chief executive Sharon Lacey, Peta called on the Premier League club to end Phoenix’s pre-match displays at Selhurst Park and never use live animal mascots again. The group says loud crowds and stadium hazards can put birds and spectators at risk.

Palace have been known as the Eagles since 1973 and introduced a live eagle to matchdays in 2010. Phoenix made her debut against West Ham in August 2024, replacing Kayla, who performed the role for 10 years before dying in 2020.

Peta cited incidents in which live mascots have been injured or killed after colliding with walls, windows or match balls, as well as a case in which a falcon’s talons became embedded in a spectator’s scalp. The BBC report did not identify when or where those incidents occurred. A Palace fan was found guilty in 2017 of trying to punch Kayla at a League Cup match two years earlier.

Peta’s senior corporate projects manager, Dr Carys Bennett, said the club already had a human mascot, Pete the Eagle, to entertain supporters.