Baboons at a zoo in Japan's western city of Hiroshima have been treated to summer vegetables to help them beat the heatwave.

About 40 olive baboons at the Asa Zoological Park were given the edible presents on Sunday, when temperatures were already above 30 degrees Celsius in the morning. July 23 is said to fall in the hottest period of this year according to a traditional 24-season calendar.

The animals, also known as Anubis baboons, scrambled to pick and eat eggplant, zucchini, tomatoes and other produce scattered around by a keeper.

A large baboon broke a big watermelon into pieces by dropping it from a higher place. It then shared the pulp with another large baboon.

A visitor of junior high school age said it was interesting to see the baboons rush to get veggies from the keeper's bucket.

The keeper said he thinks the baboons were delighted to have the summer delicacies. He said he wants them to stay healthy enough to make it through the hot days.