Latest news with #ethicaltourism
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
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. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 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. Read the original article on People
CNN
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
‘Twist, drop and push': Rowing like a Venetian
'Twist, drop and push': Rowing like a Venetian In 'Saving Venice,' CNN's Erica Hill speaks with a collective of locals interested in promoting a more ethical tourism industry with respect for Venice's unique and delicate environment. She learns about the innovative ways a new generation of Venetians are working to preserve the city's traditions, mitigate the effects of climate change, and taper the city's dependence on massive amounts of tourists. 'Saving Venice' for 'The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper' premieres Sunday at 8p ET/PT on CNN. 01:12 - Source: CNN Vertical Trending Now 15 videos 'Twist, drop and push': Rowing like a Venetian In 'Saving Venice,' CNN's Erica Hill speaks with a collective of locals interested in promoting a more ethical tourism industry with respect for Venice's unique and delicate environment. She learns about the innovative ways a new generation of Venetians are working to preserve the city's traditions, mitigate the effects of climate change, and taper the city's dependence on massive amounts of tourists. 'Saving Venice' for 'The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper' premieres Sunday at 8p ET/PT on CNN. 01:12 - Source: CNN Flower prices increase ahead of Mother's Day Mother's Day is a busy season for American florists. But this year, there's an added source of stress. President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs are raising the prices of some flowers. CNN's Julia Vargas Jones reports. 00:50 - Source: CNN How $60M in tourism revenue is at risk if Alcatraz reopens After Trump's suggestion to reopen Alcatraz as a working prison, CNN's Veronica Miracle hopped aboard the ferry and visited the island – along with its throng of tourists – to get a first-hand look at how $60M in tourism revenue could be at risk if the president's plans come to fruition. 00:40 - Source: CNN First cargo ships facing 145% tariffs arrive in LA Ships now pulling into LA's harbor from China are the first to be subject to massive tariffs. Shipments have dropped by 50%. CNN's Nick Watt is on the ground at the port of Los Angeles. 01:00 - Source: CNN Rare volcanic eruption not seen in nearly 40 years Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano could be seen hurling lava upwards of 300 feet into the air during a series of 'rapid rebounds,' which scientists say hasn't been seen in nearly 40 years. 00:33 - Source: CNN Man injects himself over 600 times with snake venom Tim Friede, a self-taught snake expert from California, injected himself with snake venom 654 times over 18 years and later contributed his blood to help scientists develop a new universal antivenom. 01:42 - Source: CNN Hundreds of dachshunds gather in Hungary in record breaking attempt In Hungary, dachshunds and their owners gathered in an attempt to break the record of biggest ever dog walk – a record previously set at 897 by the German city of Regensburg. The Hungarian Records of Association tallied the dogs as they walked through the street with their owners. 00:41 - Source: CNN Bored at the airport? For these travelers, it's showtime! Dancer and choreographer Blake McGrath felt the urge to whip out a dance combo while waiting for his flight at Dallas-Fort Worth International. The flight left without him, but when he uploaded the video to TikTok, it quickly went viral and eventually grabbed over 6.7 million views. 01:41 - Source: CNN 'Where's my camera?': Astronaut shares wondrous views from space NASA astronaut Don Pettit describes his love for photography and the images he took in his first press conference since returning from his fourth mission to space. 00:48 - Source: CNN Shedeur Sanders target of NFL draft prank call During the NFL draft, Shedeur Sanders, one of football's biggest draft prospects, received a call saying he was picked up by the New Orleans Saints, but the call turned out to be a prank. Sanders was later selected by the Cleveland Browns as the 144th overall pick in the fifth round. 01:15 - Source: CNN Robotics team overcomes wildfire destruction to reach world championships After the Palisades Fire destroyed their school and robotics lab, 4th and 5th graders from Marquez Charter Elementary School rebuilt their robots—and their hope—to compete on the world stage. 01:05 - Source: CNN He bought gold at Costco. He's not cashing in yet With gold prices touching record highs recently, some buyers of Costco gold bars are sharing their love of bullion on social media. But one gold bug tells us he's planning to be a lifelong investor in the precious metal. 01:58 - Source: CNN Key evidence in Karen Read trial Karen Read, who is accused of causing the death of her Boston police officer boyfriend, is being retried in Massachusetts. Read has been charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter and leaving the scene. A mistrial was declared last year after jurors said they were at an impasse. CNN's Jean Casarez breaks down key evidence. 01:33 - Source: CNN Earth week ends with a smiling face in the sky Just before sunrise on Friday, April 25, US stargazers can find a celestial "smiley face" along the eastern horizon as a waning crescent moon aligns with Venus and Saturn. 00:50 - Source: CNN Scientists discover car inside sunken WWII warship NOAA researchers discovered a 1940s Ford Super Deluxe "Woody" inside the sunken USS Yorktown, a famed WWII aircraft carrier lost during the Battle of Midway. 00:42 - Source: CNN
