Chinese hotel with polar bear enclosure opens to outrage

Harbin hotel keeping threatened species in pen overlooked by bedrooms angers animal welfare groups

A Chinese hotel built around a central polar bear enclosure for the non-stop viewing pleasure of its guests has opened to immediate condemnation from conservationists.

At Harbin Polar Land in north-east China, the hotel bedrooms' windows face onto the bears' pen, with visitors told the animals are their neighbours 24 hours a day".