China hotel’s red panda wake-up call service suspended over safety concerns

Rooms offering this interaction were priced between 2,000 and 3,000 yuan (approximately US$280 to US$420) per night and proved especially popular among families with children.

The hotel employed four red pandas, including one adult—around two years old—for the wake-up service. The pandas were reportedly fully vaccinated, and caretakers accompanied them during guest interactions.

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The service gained widespread attention after guests shared videos of the red panda roaming freely inside hotel rooms. Following a wave of online criticism, authorities intervened. On June 17, a representative from the Chongqing Forestry Department confirmed that the service had been ordered to halt and that an investigation was underway, according to SCMP.

Under Chinese wildlife protection law, red pandas—classified as a Class II protected species—cannot be sold, purchased or used without specific licensing, though certain public institutions may showcase protected animals for educational purposes.

Yang Zhaoxia, associate professor at Beijing Forestry University, told Beijing News Radio that red pandas, while generally mild in nature, are sensitive and easily startled by human contact. “It is crucial to maintain a safe distance between the animals and human spectators,” Yang said.

The incident also brought attention to safety concerns. In February, a guest at a wildlife-themed hotel in Jiangsu province reported her husband was bitten on the lap by a red panda while playing with it. A hotel staff member reportedly said they usually advise guests not to engage too closely with the animals.

(With inputs from SCMP)