Whoops: Zoo discovers male bear cub actually female

Phoenix Zoo admits 'embearassing' error

The Phoenix Zoo will just have to grin and bear it after making a (Ursa) major mistake.

Zoo officials said they were planning to transfer a 2-year-old Andean bear cub to a zoo in Tennessee when they discovered that Luka, previously believed to be male, was actually female, reports the AP.

Andean bear genitalia aren't very well developed before age 2, the zoo says, and determining gender is tricky, reports the AP.

Zoo employees hadn't handled Luka very much since she was doing so well with her mother, say officials with the Phoenix Zoo.

Luka may still move to Nashville, but her gender creates options for her participation in breeding programs, reports the AP.