Where did the Swimming Pigs Come From?
The swimming pigs are the best thing to happen to Bahamian tourism…maybe ever. It’s hard to envision a more made-for-social media scene than a group of chubby pigs swimming around in what just might be the most beautiful water in the Caribbean. It really is a sight to behold, but where did these pigs come from?
There are several theories floating around the internet, most of which are false. One theory is that the pigs survived a shipwreck and have continued to live for multiple generations on their own private island in the Exumas. I wish this were true because it would make for an incredible story, but unfortunately it is not.
Read More: How to Get to Pig Beach
In realty, locals from nearby islands brought the pigs to the uninhabited island of Big Major Cay in order to create something of a remote farm. The presence of fresh water and the proximity to larger inhabited islands like Staniel Cay made this the perfect island to keep livestock. The locals would take the short boat ride to Big Major Cay when the need for pork arose.
While this is the gist of the story, there is still some mystery surrounding how the pigs got there. For example, one guy claims to have moved the pigs to Big Major Cay in the 1990’s to create a sustainable food source in case the world collapsed as a result of Y2K. Either way, the pigs were brought to Big Major Cay intentionally, and they are not shipwreck survivors, nor were they placed there by pirates.
Thankfully today the pigs are no longer used as a food source and their primary purpose is to serve as tourist magnets, something at which they have become extremely adept. While there are no laws protecting the pigs, a volunteer group called the Official Swimming Pigs Association ensures that the pigs remain well fed and cared for.
The population of pigs started off small, but has since grown to the point where Pig Beach is home to 30+ pigs today. They range from tiny piglets to massive animals that will eat anything in sight. Some are friendly like this little guy who is trained to sit like a dog…
Others are a bit intimidating and will actually bite you if you harass them like many tourists unfortunately do. This big fella is a prime example…
The piglets are the cutest animals you’ll ever meet…
And all of them are expert swimmers. Some will even swim out to greet you when you’re approaching shore. Hopefully they watch out for sharks.