Panda keepers had their work cut out on Tuesday as they tried to tame dozens of panda cubs to record a special video message for the upcoming Chinese New Year, with the hard-working handlers struggling to control the rowdy but adorable bunch of young bears in front of the cameras.

The video, which marked the first public appearance for many of these newborns, was made ahead of the Spring Festival, which centers around the Chinese New Year and is China's most important traditional holiday for family reunions. It falls on Feb 10 this year.

Last year, a total of 34 panda cubs were born and bred at the National Giant Panda Conservation and Research Center, a world-class platform for giant panda research cooperation and exchange, which was inaugurated in Chengdu City of southwest China's Sichuan Province last November.

During the photo session, many of the cubs could no longer contain their excitement, with some chomping down on the pre-prepared pumpkins which had been set aside for them, while others appeared keen to climb or grab at everything within their reach just for fun.

It took quite a while for the handlers to bring all the panda cubs under control and finally record their video with New Year's greetings for viewers.

The national center integrates the resources of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda and the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, gathering outstanding giant panda research teams from across the country.