Red-faced Japanese zoo officials have had to admit not for the first time that a tiny panda cub they thought was male is in fact actually female.
The announcement was made by the Adventure World wildlife park in the town of Shirahama in the Japanese prefecture of Wakayama.
The announcement came after an examination found that the tiny cub had no testicles and was therefore female.
The same mistake was made by the wildlife park in 2005 when they announced a new female cub that later turned out to be male.
Defending the mistake, Adventure World’s deputy director Tatsuko Nakao said: “It is actually quite an easy mistake because pandas have undeveloped reproductive organs when they are born making it difficult to distinguish males from females. But there is no adverse effects because whether male or female they are all raised the same.”
The tiny hairless cub weighed just 157 grammes at birth but is now tipping the scales at 1,009 grammes a month later as of yesterday (Tuesday).
It has also started to get its typical black and white colouring although it will go on view to the public in the middle of next month as the facility is currently closed due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Japan zoo’s panda cub born on November 22, that was judged male at birth, turns out to be female, cuddling with the mother panda 
Japan zoo’s panda cub born on November 22, that was judged male at birth, turns out to be female, cuddling with the mother panda
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Story By: James King, Sub-Editor: Marija Stojkoska, Agency: Newsflash
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