PETA has urged Crystal Palace to retire Phoenix, the club's live bald eagle mascot, from matchday duties. In a letter to chief executive Sharon Lacey, the animal-rights organisation asked Palace to stop the bird's Selhurst Park appearances and commit to never using a live animal mascot again.
The organisation argues that bright lights, noise and crowds can frighten or disorient birds and create risks for spectators. Those concerns are PETA's position, rather than an independently established finding of mistreatment.
Phoenix followed Kayla
Palace adopted the Eagles nickname in 1973. Kayla began pre-match displays in 2010 and died in 2020. Phoenix made her debut before a West Ham game in August 2024 at four months old, appearing with her handler.
Phoenix is based at the Eagle Heights Wildlife Foundation in Kent, which previously said she had been prepared for the role since hatching. She does not attend every match. A planned first flight across the pitch before a game this season was understood to have been abandoned.
Responses remain outstanding
PETA cited incidents involving birds of prey at public events and the 2015 case in which a Charlton supporter was convicted of trying to punch Kayla. It argues that captive birds retain natural instincts that can make stadium environments unsuitable.
Palace had not answered the letter or a follow-up request and were contacted for comment. Eagle Heights did not reply to questions about Phoenix's welfare. The report therefore records a request for change, not an announced retirement or a concluded welfare investigation.