Red Panda Hotel - Fake

‼️Red Panda Hotel in Chongqing: why red pandas should never be kept in such places (ethology and psychology in panda facts)

Today, many channels are spreading the news about the infamous “Red Panda Hotel” in Chongqing.

I want to explain, from an ethological and psychological perspective, why keeping red pandas in such conditions is unacceptable.

First, let me reassure you: the Lehe Ledu Liangjiang Holiday Hotel (where they once offered a so-called “red panda morning call” service) was shut down by government decision. It happened for ethical reasons—due to the extreme sensitivity of these animals and their protected status.

However, viral videos continue to circulate online, misleading people and creating a dangerous illusion that a red panda can live comfortably alongside humans.

Let’s take a closer look at why, behind these seemingly “cute” videos, lies a serious source of stress for the animals.

Red pandas are solitary by nature. They meet only during the breeding season, and after the cubs are born, the male continues his solitary lifestyle. The female, at that time, devotes herself entirely to raising her young—this is when her strong maternal instinct appears.

I once wrote about how precious every red panda birth in captivity is: 👉 t.me/mrfulgens/881

From an ethological point of view, the solitary lifestyle of red pandas developed through evolution—and today I want to explain why it became their natural and safest way of life.

Red pandas (Ailurus fulgens) are strictly solitary, territorial animals. In the wild, each individual occupies a range of up to 10 km², with females holding territories two to three times smaller. They mark boundaries using a special glandular secretion, and any intrusion—whether by humans or other animals—is perceived as a threat.

Over millions of years, the red panda has adapted to its ecological niche. In the mountain forests of the Himalayas and southeastern China, where bamboo—its main food source—has low nutritional value, competition for resources forces pandas to live alone.

Solitude became an evolutionary solution: it helps conserve energy, avoid conflict, and protect offspring. Nature found balance in a world where food is scarce and solitude becomes a survival strategy.

In “animal hotels,” pandas lose control over their space. The constant presence of humans, loud noise, flashing lights, strong scents, and unfamiliar voices cause chronic stress. Elevated cortisol levels (the stress hormone) have been recorded in small carnivorous mammals after repeated contact with tourists.

For red pandas, whose hearing and smell are extremely sensitive, this stress is devastating—it disrupts their sleep and feeding cycles, weakens immunity, and affects reproductive hormones, which is critical for population conservation.

For these reasons, Chinese authorities eventually closed the Lehe Ledu Liangjiang Holiday Hotel in Chongqing, where the “red panda morning call” was once offered.

The decision was made for both ethical and biological reasons—the very ones we’ve discussed today.

And that is why red pandas must never be turned into entertainment. When I think of them, I remember how important it is to protect not only the species but also their peace. Let’s not look blindly—let’s respect and thank the red panda for her true nature.

Red pandas forever!

Mr. Fulgens | Red Pandas