Biologist Felippe Luna, dressed as Santa Claus, greets a child through the glass while swimming among fishes at the AquaRio aquarium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil December 21, 2024. — REUTERS/Lucas Landau
Santa Claus has arrived in Rio de Janeiro - under water.
Starting on Saturday, he has been spotted at AquaRio Marine Aquarium swimming with sharks during their daily fish feeding sessions as part of the city’s Christmas festivities.
Nine-year-old Guilherme Martins Matos said he’d seen Santa - or at least an impersonator - at the mall. That was cool, he said, but this was better.
"Imagine him under water feeding the fish? It’s even cooler,” Guilherme told The Associated Press.
This version of Santa Claus is Felippe Luna, 39, a senior animal handler at AquaRio. What began as a joke among staff has become an annual tradition.
Dressed as Santa, Luna dives into the aquarium’s 924,602-gallon tank to feed marine animals, including sharks. "For the kids, seeing Santa Claus under water is already incredible. And Santa feeding a shark by hand? That’s unforgettable,” Luna said. — AP
