China wildlife-themed hotel to curb using red pandas as their 'morning clocks' for guests

There must be a broad line between loving wildlife and encroaching on it. As reported by the Independent on June 22, China’s popular wildlife-themed hotel, Lehe Ledu Liangjiang, was asked by the local forest bureau to curb using endangered red pandas as their morning clock for guests in their resort. Their idea of using wildlife animals as a luxury service to avail has sparked controversy among animal activists in the country. This incident is a testament to the fact that humans have primarily encroached on wildlife in the name of curiosity, love, and massive development.

The popular hotel located in Chongqing, China, is a family resort and is famous for its quirky and unusual way of providing wildlife services to the guests. The service involved bringing the red pandas to the hotel room by a trusted staff member and letting them climb onto the bed. The guest, after being woken by the species, usually played with and fed them. Many guests were attracted to this unique way of connecting with wildlife, which has now turned into a human-wildlife conflict.

Urbanization is truly a bane for the existence of wildlife. For centuries, people have been wanting to find entertainment in wildlife, from hunting to wildlife tourism, humans have come a long way in invading the private space of animals. The wildlife tourism has formed 7% part of the world tourism industry, according to UN Tourism. And, the luxury hotels are mushrooming in the domain. Research in this area has always highlighted that people do not consider the rights of animals as significant as human rights, and that is exactly why such incidents keep on happening.

An article published by Taylor and Francis highlighting key debates on the issue stated that wildlife tourism will be completely shut down if at all people consider animal ethics, which is a “proposition that sounds unrealistic”. People want to experience nature close enough that they forget that it is an act of invasion, also using animals to further the experience of tourists comes under “animal labour” as debated in the article. The majority of the studies argued that animals are often “exploited, manipulated, and coerced into performing unnatural behaviours for human entertainment or education.”

Lehe Ledu Liangjiang was opened in 2010, with the idea of a tourist resort that would include a wildlife park. The resort has over 100 rooms, and one of its services offered is “getting close to animals.” According to reports, the rooms that feature the popular red panda “morning calls” are priced between US$280 to US$420 $420 per night. The hotel has employed and trained four staff members who escort red pandas to the guests every morning.

China has only 6000 to 7000 red pandas, and they are a naturally sensitive species, as said by Sun Quanhui, a scientist from the World Animal Protection organisation. He explained that the species are nationally protected and claimed that they should not be kept as pets or for tourism-related entertainment, as being forced to interact with guests could trigger a stress response. Here, experts are citing concerns regarding the use of animals in hotels, but people online loved the idea. “If they don't bite, bring them on. They can even eat from my mini-bar,” wrote @u/rock_and_rolo on Reddit. “OMG, where is this so I can go stay?” asked @u/forevrtwntyfour. “Oh, I’d love that!” @u/BenGay29 said.