Quick checkup for panda cub -- It's a girl

ATLANTA, Sept. 25 (UPI) -- The 19-day-old panda cub at Atlanta's zoo was determined Monday to be a girl.

While new mom Lun Lun was in another den, veterinarian Maria Crane weighed the cub -- 1.4 pounds -- and discovered she was a female, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

The tiny cub's sex had been unknown because her mother held her so close, the newspaper said.

The panda kept quiet during most of the exam, making noise only when Crane attempted to insert a rectal thermometer. Lun Lun showed no signs of being upset by the exam either, probably because her cub did not.

Like many proud parents, Zoo Atlanta officials said they did not especially care about the sex -- although Crane appeared glad the cub is female.

"Every individual is important, but obviously females are valued for their ability to produce more," Crane said. "Of course, males are valued for the same reason."