Peta has called on Crystal Palace to stop using Phoenix, the club's bald eagle mascot, with immediate effect and retire him from matchday duties. The animal rights group wrote to Palace CEO Sharon Lacey demanding the club commit to "never using a live animal mascot again".
Peta's demand
Peta is urging the club to let Phoenix retire from matchday duties. Dr Carys Bennett of Peta said: "Bald eagles are revered as symbols of freedom, yet Phoenix is being used as little more than a prop to entertain football fans."
Claims about the stadium environment
Peta says "reclusive eagles deserve better than a stressful, booming stadium environment" where "bright lights, loud noises, and boisterous crowds can cause birds to become frightened, disoriented and panicked". Bennett said: "Crystal Palace already has a human mascot to energise supporters, so there's no reason to drag a wild animal into a noisy, crowded stadium."
Other incidents cited in the letter
Peta's letter pointed to other incidents involving live birds at football, including "an owl who died after being hit by a ball, eagles who crashed into walls or glass windows, and a falcon who landed on a fan’s head, sinking his talons into the man’s scalp". Peta also referred to another case involving a football supporter punching a rival team's eagle mascot.
The Kayla incident
The Independent said that incident is believed to relate to a fan attacking Kayla, Palace's previous eagle mascot, at a League Cup match against Charlton in September 2015. Kayla regularly appeared before matches at Selhurst Park and flew the length of the pitch. Bennett said: "Peta is urging the club to let Phoenix spread his wings and retire him from matchday duties for good."