BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - In response to an incident during Friday's Bakersfield Condors game, PETA is urging the team to ensure that live animals are never again displayed during a game.

During the game, an animal handler repeatedly slipped and fell on the ice, dropping a condor named Queen Victoria.  The condor then escaped and ran around the arena.

In a letter sent to the team's president this morning, PETA said that animals in captivity are denied everything that is natural and important to them and that trotting them out in front of a screaming crowd is extremely frightening for them.

The group also said that Friday's incident shows that these kind of stunts can potentially lead to further injuries to animals, players, and fans.

"Anyone who has watched a video of this incident can see that a raucous ice-hockey arena is the last place that a wild condor belongs," says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman.

"PETA is calling on the Condors to make Friday's stunt the last of its kind—before more animals are terrorized and more people are hurt."

PETA's letter to Matthew Riley, president of the Bakersfield Condors, follows.

February 12, 2013

Matthew Riley

President

Bakersfield Condors

Dear Mr. Riley,

I'm writing on behalf of PETA and our more than 3 million members and supporters regarding the incident that occurred during the Bakersfield Condors' Friday night game when a condor named Queen Victoria got loose in the arena when she was brought out onto the ice. A sports arena is no place for a bird—or any other animal, for that matter—and we are asking you to respect wildlife and not use live animals at future games.

Try to imagine how terrifying it was for this bird to be subjected to an alien environment with blindingly bright lights, thousands of screaming people, and a booming sound system. Birds can easily become frightened and disorientated in such situations, and this bird or a person in the stadium could have been seriously injured when she took flight. Even when accidents don't occur, Birds N Beasts Inc. and similar outfits cause wildlife to suffer by using them as toys. They can easily become stressed when caged and shuffled from venue to venue.

In nature, condors can travel up to 150 miles a day in search of food; they are among the largest birds in the world and need to soar freely over wide open spaces. Please also consider what message this stunt sent to children who were in the audience. Rather than being in awe of the capabilities and magnificence of wild species, our youngsters are taught that such disrespectful "entertainment" uses are still somehow acceptable.

Nowadays, most professional and college sports teams use costumed humans as mascots—and for good reason. We hope you'll agree that there are plenty of other, better ways to foster excitement for your team than by using live animals. May we please hear that you'll refrain from using live animals at future Condors events? That would be good news indeed. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Tracy Reiman

Executive Vice President