Animal rights organisation PETA is calling for the retirement of Attila, the live eagle mascot of Eintracht Frankfurt. The golden eagle has been the club's mascot for many years, but activists claim the regular stadium appearances are not species-appropriate.
Peter Höffken of PETA criticised that regularly bringing the eagle into the stadium and presenting it tied up is not appropriate treatment for a bird of prey. The organisation cites stress from noise, crowds, and transport. It has previously suggested alternatives like drones or holograms.
Eintracht Frankfurt firmly rejects the allegations. The club stresses that Attila is extremely well cared for and has been accustomed to the environment for a long time. His appearances last only a short time per matchday. All animal welfare regulations are followed, and there have never been any negative incidents. Norbert Lawitschka, the eagle's falconer, emphasises that the appearances are designed to be stress-free.
Board member Axel Hellmann had already dismissed similar demands last year. He said at the time that he could not imagine that Attila is kept in a way that constitutes animal cruelty. Eintracht Frankfurt is, alongside another club, the only Bundesliga club with a live animal mascot.
The debate over Attila comes as the team sits in the middle of the Bundesliga table. Recent form shows several wins, one draw, and one defeat from the last matches. The most recent game ended in a draw.
Next up is a home match against a neighbouring team in the standings. Against this backdrop, Attila remains a fixture of home match rituals for now. The club has no plans to end the tradition after many years.
This story first appeared at Bild Sport
