Many French tourists are opting for a luxury way to spend a night with a polar bear-in a hotel!

In a bid to boost the number of visitors, La Fleche zoo in France decided to open its first lodge in 2013.

The Arctic lodges have log fires for observing polar bears where visitors can observe polar bears Taiko and another polar bear Katinka       who swim underwater and can be observed from a massive window connected to a parental suite.

Six lodges are due to open by 2016 before ?a big African Savannah project ?that will include a hotel complex for business customers.

This method of attracting visitors is similar to other zoos in France like Sainte-Croix where visitors must wait almost one and a half years to make a reservation at its most expensive lodge  near the wolf enclosure or in other parts of the world like Canberra, Australia which has an African-themed resort. This seems to be an idea that will serve to profit zoos for several years because accommodation is fully booked.

The idea of attracting tourists to zoos by constructing lodges and resorts will only serve to continue these animals? lives in captivity.

What must be encouraged instead is for the public to visit wild life reserves where these animals thrive with flora in their natural habitats, and not in captivity while humans watch them in a lodge.