Chinese hotel must halt red panda wake-up service over animal rights concerns

In China, a hotel known for its unique services involving red pandas has come under scrutiny for animal rights violations. The Lehe Ledu Liangjiang Holiday Hotel located in Chongqing provided a service where red pandas would visit guests' rooms in the mornings, climbing onto beds and interacting with guests. While this experience drew many families eager to engage with these cuddly animals, concerns surrounding the red pandas' well-being led to local authorities intervening. The Chongqing Forestry Bureau launched an investigation after receiving reports about the potential harm to the animals and the safety of the guests. The bureau emphasized that red pandas are a protected species that require careful handling to avoid stress and injury. This scrutiny reflects a broader global concern regarding the ethical treatment of animals in tourism, raising questions about how wildlife should interact with people. Despite the hotel's claims that all red pandas are vaccinated and cared for by professional staff, experts voiced significant worries about the animals' mental health. A scientist from the World Animal Protection organization stated that red pandas are sensitive creatures, and forced interactions can lead to adverse stress responses. The hotel's policy of allowing children to interact closely with these animals, even while supervised, has also faced criticism. The decision to stop the wake-up call service appears to be a necessary measure to align with modern views of animal welfare and rights. This has ignited a discussion on how wildlife tourism should be approached to ensure the protection of endangered species while considering the desires of tourists.