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The birth of the female cub has fascinated the whole nation. But the public has seen her only on camera, TV or computer screens so far. Even visitors to the zoo have to watch the dolllike creature from a screen that relays her movements via a closedcircuit system.

"We are now planning to let visitors see the cub directly," Kannikar Nimtrakul said yesterday. She is the veterinarian who is in charge of the panda.

She said the first direct public display of the cub would take place on July 4.

"We will arrange two rounds of viewing each day from July 4 to July 6," Kannikar said, adding that the cub would be inside a glass cage during the display.

Born on May 27, the cub yesterday weighed 630 grams and was about 24 centimetres long.

"It is healthy," the veterinarian said.

The cub was born to Chuang Chuang and Lin Hui. Also living at the Chiang Mai Zoo, the giant pandas are on loan from China.

Meanwhile, the panda project's chief, Prasertsak Boontrakulpoontawee, and Zoological Park Organisation director Sophon Damnui yesterday joined a delegation headed by Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti on a trip to China.

The delegation will meet with a Chinese minister to discuss the artificial insemination that led to the birth, and on a proposal to establish a permanent panda research centre in Thailand.

An informed source said if the proposal won approval the baby panda as well as its parents would be able to stay in Thailand longer.

According to an agreement with China, the baby panda must head to China within two years of its birth. Coming to Thailand in 2003, Chuang Chuang and Lin Hui are slated to stay in Thailand for 10 years only.