Baby pandas welcome the Lunar New Year at Chinese research base

Jan. 24 (UPI) -- Keepers at a giant panda breeding center in China gathered with several of the animals to perform a song and dance for the Lunar New Year.

A video recorded Friday at Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding shows the keepers preparing for the Lunar New Year holiday, which begins Jan. 28, by performing a choreographed routine with 23 baby pandas.

The keepers hold the pandas in their arms as they recite a welcome to the New Year and move the baby bears in a synchronized routine.

The baby pandas are then treated to a snuggle session with plenty of scratches behind the ears.