article_snippet: The Phoenix Zoo has confessed to what it's calling an 'em-bear-assing' mistake regarding one of The Phoenix Zoo animals.
article_snippet: According to keepers, the species' genitalia are highly undeveloped before the age of two, making it very difficult to determine gender.
article_snippet: Apparently the Andean bear - native to South America - is also particularly difficult to sex
article_snippet: because there has been limited captive breeding across the U.S.
article_snippet: Many have been incorrectly sexed as cubs at other facilities in the past, The Phoenix Zoo notes.
article_snippet: , The Phoenix Zoo opens up other options for the bear's participation in a breeding program.
article_snippet: Experts called the mistake 'great news for the management of this rare bear'.
article_snippet: The concluded: 'All births are critically important for this species as All births are so rare in zoos, and having another young female is beneficial to the entire breeding program and survival of the species.'
highlights_snippet: Park officials were planning to transfer the animal to Tennessee when Park officials discovered Park officials had got the sex wrong .
  
highlights_snippet: Experts say it is an easy mistake to make as the Andean bear cubs' genitalia are highly undeveloped before the age of two . 