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Hotel Faces Backlash for Using Endangered Red Pandas to Wake Up Guests
The Lehe Ledu Liangjiang Holiday Hotel is facing backlash for providing guests with 'wake-up calls' using red pandas
The hotel in Chongqing, China, is a popular destination for influencers and people looking for unique tourist experiences
Local authorities have since forbade the hotel from allowing guests to have 'close contact' with the endangered speciesA hotel in China is facing backlash after using endangered red pandas to wake up guests in the morning.
The Lehe Ledu Liangjiang Holiday Hotel, located in the countryside near the southwestern city of Chongqing, is known for its 'red panda-themed holidays,' per The London Times.
The hotel boasts close contact with one of its four red pandas — bringing them to guests' rooms in the morning for 'wake-up calls.' The amount of time that the animals stay with guests depends on 'the red panda's mood that day,' according to China Newsweek, per The Times.
The hotel has become popular on social media, with travel influencers posting videos and photos of their visits.
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However, the hotel recently sparked backlash and online public debate among people who questioned whether the hotel's practices were ethical, especially given that red pandas are considered an endangered species.
The local forest bureau became involved, and the bureau has since ordered an immediate pause on any activities involving 'close contact' with the creatures at the hotel. They also stated that disobeying the order could potentially result in prosecution or fines, per The Times.
According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) there are fewer than 10,000 red pandas in the world. The WWF noted that many red pandas reside in the Eastern Himalayas, but are losing their natural habitat due to deforestation. Additionally, they are killed when caught in traps meant for other animals, and they are sometimes poached for their fur.
Despite their name, red pandas are not technically pandas — or bears at all. They are slightly larger than domestic house cats, and are known for their red fur and raccoon-like markings.
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