Prior to the controversy, rooms for the hotel were fully booked, raising questions about the welfare of China’s endangered animals and their use as entertainment.
A hotel in southwestern China’s megacity of Chongqing has come under fire for using red pandas to deliver morning wake-up calls to guests, sparking controversy and raising fresh concerns about the welfare of endangered wildlife and customer safety.
Located near the Chongqing Wild Animal World, the hotel offers a so-called “red panda morning call” service, where staff lead red pandas into guests’ rooms to greet them in the morning. Guests can feed, stroke, and take photos with the animals — some of whom were filmed exploring the hotel rooms and wandering across beds.
In addition to red panda-themed rooms, the hotel features accommodation with up-close contact with ring-tailed lemurs, albeit this time outdoors.
A red panda eats from a baby’s hand during a hotel stay. From Weibo
Both animals are endangered species and listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species. In China, the red panda is under second-class national protection.
China’s Wildlife Protection Law states that if wild animals are used for public display or performances, “appropriate safety protocols must be followed, and the animals’ well-being must be ensured.” However, it does not specify what these protocols should entail.
The service quickly gained traction online, boosted by tourist videos and social media content showing families and children interacting with the animals. Reservations rapidly sold out.
Room rates start at around 1,600 yuan ($222) per night, with the most luxurious option — a ring-tailed lemur-themed standalone villa that accommodates up to 10 guests — priced at approximately 7,100 yuan per night.
But the same videos that attracted crowds also sparked a backlash. Critics accused the hotel of exploiting endangered wildlife for entertainment, while experts raised concerns about safety risks associated with interacting with wild animals, especially for children.
Although the hotel claimed that the animals had been vaccinated, zoologist Deng Changlin told local media that vaccination does not eliminate the risk of disease transmission or unpredictable behavior by stressed or provoked animals in close quarters.
In February this year, a guest at a wildlife-themed hotel in Nantong, in eastern China’s Jiangsu province, was bitten on the arm by a red panda, which is part of the extended raccoon family.
In response to the growing controversy, the Chongqing Forestry Bureau ordered the hotel to halt the service immediately and launched an official investigation into the matter.
A search by Sixth Tone revealed that both types of animal-themed rooms are no longer available to book online.
Amid China’s booming pet economy, there is also a growing desire for close-up interactions with exotic wild animals — from Siamese crocodiles to pythons — that are rarely seen in everyday life.
Tapping into the trend, some hotels and tourist attractions have introduced various animal experiences, from alpaca picnics to breakfasts with giraffes. While these interactions offer unique draws for travelers, the practice has ignited discussions on animal welfare, regulation, and ethical tourism.
In one case, a baby orangutan, dressed in clothes and sunglasses, drew public concern earlier this year over the treatment of animals in China’s tourism-focused parks. At the time, experts warned that dressing up animals and allowing close visitor contact could harm them and promote the idea that wildlife exists solely for entertainment.
Editor: Tom Arnstein.
(Header image: Red pandas play with guests on their hotel beds. From Weibo)
