Government officials ordered that a hotel in China with an open view to an enclosed Tiger in East China be closed. This was due to concerns for its welfare.
The white tiger, which can be seen from the hotel room roaming the grassy enclosure, is separated by glass from a room at the Sendi Tribe Treehouse Hotel in Nantong.
The hotel is connected to the Nantong Forest safari park, one of the large-scale zoos in the region with nearly 20,000 wild animals.
According to The Times, state media reported that tigers can easily be alarmed when they are so close to the glass.
While the hotel provides a glimpse into the enclosure, (pictured), Chinese state media stated that the glass should be soundproofed to prevent the animal from being alarmed.
Aerial view of Nantong Forest Safari Park, where the hotel can be found
While guests are protected from the tiger by blast-proof glass, The Beijing News said the design lacked consideration for the tiger.
Chinese newspaper owned by the government said that further testing was required to determine if the design is soundproof enough for animal welfare.
The news outlet stated that one-way glasses may be less disruptive to animals.
The hotel already offers rooms with views looking out on to giraffes, lions and zebras.
The Chinese New Year will be celebrated by residents on February 1. This year, 2022 is the Year of Tigers.
China National Radio claimed that the hotel had used the Chinese Year of the Tiger marketing tactic to market the Tiger room before the celebrations.
Another white Tiger (pictured) takes a bite out of an ice-block in Nantong Forest’s safari park.
Sendi Tribe Treehouse wasn’t the first to offer a room with an unusual view.
Harbin, in Northeast China, unveiled last year the first-ever polar bear hotel.
Guests can view polar bears 24 hours a day through windows facing on to the bears’ enclosure.
‘These bears appear to have no fresh air, no space to roam, no privacy, no peace, no view and just artificial stimulation,’ said Simon Marsh, the acting director of UK-based animal welfare group Wild Welfare.
Marsh said that captive animals and zoos should be able to meet their own needs, which Marsh did in 2021, when Marsh opened the zoo.