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Home / Travel

Meet the swimming pigs of the Bahamas

Herald online
27 Jan, 2016 11:15 PM2 mins to read

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Relaxing with a porcine paddler on Pig Island. Photo / Instagram, kjwww

Relaxing with a porcine paddler on Pig Island. Photo / Instagram, kjwww

You can swim with just about anything these days - dolphins, turtles, stingrays and even sharks - but on a tiny island in the Bahamas, pigs paddle with tourists.

View this post on Instagram

Looks like Brandon made friends with the locals #sheepwrecked

A post shared by SHEEPSHEAD (@sheepsheadwear) on Dec 29, 2015 at 5:30pm PST

Pig Beach, officially known as Big Major Cay, is an uninhabited island known for its population of feral, but friendly pigs.

No one knows quite how the pigs arrived on the island - anecdotal history says they were originally dropped off by sailors, while others believe the pigs were a planned scheme by the Bahamas Government to attract tourists.

View this post on Instagram

Today, I made a pig smile. Life goal: complete #piggiesmalls #theswimmingpigs #pigbeach

A post shared by Brooke Van Den Bosch (@brooke.vdb) on Jan 17, 2016 at 3:56pm PST

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Either way, the pigs are evidently very happy to pose for selfies with tourists.

Here are some of our favourite Instagram snaps from Pig Island:

View this post on Instagram

A beautiful tropical island where wild pigs swim in thencrystal clear water and they are not afraid to swim with humans either. #travel #wishlist #bahamas

A post shared by APRILPOOLDAY (@aprilpoolday) on Jan 8, 2016 at 4:37am PST

View this post on Instagram

synchronized swimming

A post shared by kristen joy watts ☁️ (@kjw) on Dec 14, 2015 at 6:51pm PST

View this post on Instagram

Let us know if you feel a little like this around this time of year! 🐽 Love this shot by Outbounder @jordanmariemiller Tag your pics with #outbounderlife and we will feature them! And remember to download Outbound – a social network for travellers!

A post shared by Travello App (@travelloapp) on Dec 29, 2015 at 4:06am PST

View this post on Instagram

🐷 I love me some bacon

A post shared by Dylan Lightbourn (@dylan_lightbourn) on Jan 8, 2016 at 3:25pm PST

View this post on Instagram

Oink! #exuma #dreamvacation #swimmingpigs

A post shared by Erica Giselle (@itsdaddylonglegs) on Jan 3, 2016 at 9:28am PST

View this post on Instagram

Só mais essa de despedida....kkkkkkk! Linda, q linda sua linda.... Marque aqui sua amiga ou amigo q ri assim 😂 Ps: Juro q é a última! 🐷 Vc tá linda @gilancellotti no mar de Bahamas miga sua loka !

A post shared by Bruno Gagliasso (@brunogagliasso) on Jan 15, 2016 at 2:06pm PST

- nzherald.co.nz

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