Hotel told ‘world's cutest wake-up service' is cruel and must stop

Lehe Ledu Liangjiang Holiday Hotel, a popular family resort in Chongqing, has become a huge viral hit in China thanks to its red panda wake-up service, that is now attracting heat
A Chinese hotel has been told it must stop waking guests up with red pandas.
Lehe Ledu Liangjiang Holiday Hotel, a popular family resort in Chongqing, currently offers guests the chance to be awakened by the russet-tinted mammals. Many guests are attracted to the hotel solely for its red panda wake-up experience, which involves one of the fluffy animals being led into a guest's bedroom in the morning.
‌
The animal is then allowed to walk around the room freely and climb onto the duvet-covered bed if it wishes. The service has become a hit online, earning the title "the world's cutest wake-up service."
‌
One British couple, Reanne and Ben, documented the experience on their YouTube channel On Tour With Dridgers. In their video, the red panda can be seen wandering along the hotel corridor with a staff member, entering the room, chomping a chunk of apple, and then climbing onto the couple's bed.
The seemingly friendly and relaxed panda allows the duo to stroke it while eating apple from their hands.
Now, the Chongqing Forestry Bureau has asked the hotel to stop all activities that allow contact between guests and red pandas. It has sent a team to the hotel to conduct an on-site investigation and said it will release the results of this visit soon.
While the nature of the Forestry Bureau's concerns is not currently clear, the attraction has long attracted criticism online from those who warn it could lead to injury of both animal and human, as well as the transmission of diseases. The general welfare of the pandas is also a concern.
The hotel said that the red pandas are borrowed from a zoo, have been vaccinated, and are cared for by dedicated staff. They told China Newsweek that four red pandas are kept on-site and are on a rota for guest visits.
Sun Quanhui, a scientist from the World Animal Protection organisation, told the Global Times that red pandas are a nationally protected wild species. Sun said that they should not be kept as pets or used for tourism-related entertainment, warning that their sensitive natures could lead them to become stressed in such an environment.

Hashtags

#Chinese

#British

#YouTube

#OnTourWithDridgers

#LeheLeduLiangjiangHolidayHotel

#ChongqingForestryBureau

#ForestryBureau

#Reanne

#Ben

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Qatar temporarily closes airspace amid rising tensions in Middle East

South Wales Guardian

an hour ago

South Wales Guardian

Qatar temporarily closes airspace amid rising tensions in Middle East

The move comes after US forces struck three nuclear sites in Iran, prompting Tehran to launch a barrage of retaliatory ballistic missiles against Israel. In a statement posted to social media on Monday, the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: 'Qatari authorities announce the temporary suspension of air traffic in the country's airspace, in order to ensure the safety of citizens, residents, and visitors.' Qatar Airways has been contacted for comment on the impact to its operations. Airlines are reviewing routes across the region, with some services rerouted or diverted mid-air. It comes just hours after the Foreign Office advised British nationals in Qatar to 'shelter in place' following a US security alert. The UK Foreign Office is advising against all travel to Iran and urges British nationals in the region to follow local guidance. It has also updated its travel advice for Qatar, warning British nationals to shelter in place 'out of an abundance of caution' following a US security alert in the country. In updated guidance, it said: 'Following a US security alert for US nationals in Qatar, out of an abundance of caution, we recommend that British nationals in Qatar shelter in place until further notice. 'Follow instructions from local authorities. 'The FCDO is in contact with local authorities and international partners, and will provide further updates as the situation develops.' Qatar is home to Al Udeid airbase, the largest US military installation in the Middle East, where around 8,000 American personnel are based, according to the US State Department. The base also hosts British forces. No. 83 Expeditionary Air Group, part of the Royal Air Force, is headquartered at Al Udeid and leads UK air operations in the region. On Monday, flight-tracking data from Flightradar24 showed a Qatar Airways service from Gatwick to Doha make a sharp diversion shortly before entering Qatari airspace.