Hotel in China rapped by wildlife officials for using endangered red pandas to wake up guests
They're alarmingly cute.
A hotel in China has been rapped by local wildlife officials for using endangered red pandas during wake-up calls for guests, according to a report.
The Lehe Ledu Liangjiang Holiday Hotel, located in the mountains near Chongqing, offered boarders the option of a 'red panda-themed holiday,' which included bringing the endangered species into guests' rooms for wake-up calls, The Times of London reported.
The hotel brought the endangered species into guests' rooms for wake-up calls.
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For the morning meet-ups, the adorable, furry critters would be ushered into plush hotel rooms to interact with guests who shelled out for the special treatment.
The unique experience flew under the radar of wildlife officials in the Communist country — until a British tourist and YouTuber couple went viral with a panda video from Lehe Ledu.
The 'On Tour With Dridgers' video showed an apparent handler lead the well-kept critter into the room and up onto the bed.
Content creator Reanne Ridger fed the bushy, red beast a treat and even stole some cuddles during her brief visit, video showed.
Even more eyes were drawn to the questionable practice after the publication of a feature article in a popular Chinese magazine, the Times of London reported.
However, the publicity also drew the attention of local forestry officials who could barely believe their eyes.
Hotel staff told the outlet that they borrowed the pandas from a local zoo.
AFP via Getty Images
In a statement, Chongqing Forestry Bureau ordered the hotel to immediately halt all 'close contact' between animals and guests and threatened to prosecute the hoteliers for any further infractions, the outlet reported.
China's state-backed newspaper The Global Times issued their own scathing report on the panda pandering.
Hotel staff told that outlet that they borrow the pandas from a local zoo and rotate which critters are called into work.
They further assured that all the red pandas are vaccinated, cleaned, and cared for by dedicated staff, The Global Times reported.
'Close contact' activities have been banned in China since 2018 as the practice was a customary form of income, The Times of London reported.
Despite what its name would indicate, red pandas are not bears, but are closely related to raccoons and are a nationally protected wild species in their native China.
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New York Post
17 hours ago
- New York Post
Hotel in China rapped by wildlife officials for using endangered red pandas to wake up guests
They're alarmingly cute. A hotel in China has been rapped by local wildlife officials for using endangered red pandas during wake-up calls for guests, according to a report. The Lehe Ledu Liangjiang Holiday Hotel, located in the mountains near Chongqing, offered boarders the option of a 'red panda-themed holiday,' which included bringing the endangered species into guests' rooms for wake-up calls, The Times of London reported. The hotel brought the endangered species into guests' rooms for wake-up calls. For the morning meet-ups, the adorable, furry critters would be ushered into plush hotel rooms to interact with guests who shelled out for the special treatment. The unique experience flew under the radar of wildlife officials in the Communist country — until a British tourist and YouTuber couple went viral with a panda video from Lehe Ledu. The 'On Tour With Dridgers' video showed an apparent handler lead the well-kept critter into the room and up onto the bed. Content creator Reanne Ridger fed the bushy, red beast a treat and even stole some cuddles during her brief visit, video showed. Even more eyes were drawn to the questionable practice after the publication of a feature article in a popular Chinese magazine, the Times of London reported. However, the publicity also drew the attention of local forestry officials who could barely believe their eyes. Hotel staff told the outlet that they borrowed the pandas from a local zoo. AFP via Getty Images In a statement, Chongqing Forestry Bureau ordered the hotel to immediately halt all 'close contact' between animals and guests and threatened to prosecute the hoteliers for any further infractions, the outlet reported. China's state-backed newspaper The Global Times issued their own scathing report on the panda pandering. Hotel staff told that outlet that they borrow the pandas from a local zoo and rotate which critters are called into work. They further assured that all the red pandas are vaccinated, cleaned, and cared for by dedicated staff, The Global Times reported. 'Close contact' activities have been banned in China since 2018 as the practice was a customary form of income, The Times of London reported. Despite what its name would indicate, red pandas are not bears, but are closely related to raccoons and are a nationally protected wild species in their native China.
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
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