Three-year-old giant panda identified as female from male

(ECNS) -- He Ye, previously known as a male panda, proves to be a female, Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding said on Wednesday.

He Ye is one of a twin pair of pandas. Its sister He Hua, known as Hua Hua, is a female giant panda who has captivated the hearts of people for her mild temperament.

The panda's keeper, affectionately known as Grandpa Tan, said the gender of a panda is difficult to identify before it turns three years old, and that He Ye's characteristics tended toward "male."

But as it grew up, its male characteristics became less obvious, so experts were invited to take its biological samples and make the identification, Grandpa Tan added. As a result, He Ye turned out to be a female.

He Ye and He Hua were born on July 4, 2020 to Tuan Tuan, who died on Sept. 3, 2023.