While they have no natural predators on the island, the iguanas on Bitter Guana Cay are endangered – their biggest threat being humans. Although illegal, the iguanas are often hunted for human consumption. This is an all-woman and locally owned agency by a mother-daughter team who were both born and raised in Staniel Cay. Hey gorgeous! But as soon as we arrived, and she saw those pigs swimming out to meet us, she was hooked and jumped straight in the water to spend time with them. She even cuddled and fed a piglet milk – given to her by one of the attendants. Local guides, Caribbean boat tour companies, and nearby resorts are all profiting from travelers who would give anything—and pay anything—to swim and snap a selfie with the Bahamian pigs. Tourist Safety Is Certainly An Issue

Observer media arrived on the scene last Wednesday to get the full experience of this unorthodox business and caught up with the owner of the company, Chantelle Winter, during one of her tours. After recovering from the glee of fraternizing with little piglets in paradise, I started to notice the abrasions on their skin. I looked closer and saw that the skin on their snouts was peeling, and they had little scabs and marks on their tiny heads. The Swimming Pigs Experience Skin Abrasions, Severe Sunburns & Unreliable Food Sources Yeah—but don’t worry, they roast them on a skewer and eat them, and nothing goes to waste. And no, we don’t serve them at the restaurant here—a lot of people ask that!” We had a couple of minutes to enjoy their immense presence and funny behavior as they came for their food, remembering to put both hands in the air and say, “No food,” when they came near us wanting to eat. Hands up means no food! With the light coming through the cave from holes above and below under the water there were varying hues of blue underwater as well. We saw pretty coral and fish

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But we don’t need to continue to spread a false story of happiness at the expense of these pigs—especially when there are pigs like Esther the Wonder Pig who is a real-life example of a truly happy, healthy, beloved pig. You can do the private tours from Staniel Cay or via a scenic flight from Nassau. Alternative: Speed Boat tour from Nassau or Paradise Island Speed boat from Nassau We can also put pressure on the government, tour companies, and local resorts to do better. There is currently no oversight or transparency. We really need to act now to stop this problem from growing (and spreading to more islands), and also urgethe government and tour companies to at the very least neuter the male pigs, provide sturdy shelter to protect them from the storms, and assign someone to look out for their care and wellbeing (food, water, sun protection, veterinary care, etc). Choose Cruelty-Free Travel & Compassionate Vacations

I’m not sure why The Bahamas was never on my radar. Probably because I’m Australian and had my fair share of spectacular beaches and islands. Would it really interest me, or would I just be as blasé as one gets visiting Europe and seeing endless churches? Pirate Beach on Staniel Cay is incredible! The Bahamas recently outlawed the fishing of sea turtles andwas declared a shark sanctuary, protecting sharks from commercial fishing. In 1958 The Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park was the first national park of its kind to have both a land and sea component. The 176 square mile park is a ‘no-take’ park where nothing within its boundaries can be removed.Their primary food source comes from locals and visiting tourists. When pigs are food-aggressive and there is a lot of food competition among the pigs, that is a sign that they are probably hungry and not getting enough to eat. The pigs also have heightened stress and become more aggressive when they are deficient in nutrients. The pigs don’t have adequate shelter. A rope guides you through the small tunnels into the grotto where you can snorkel. We snorkeled at many places around the world, so I was surprised to see how pristine it was here. It was then that the babies came running over. “My goodness,” I thought. There were tons of them! 10, maybe 15 piglets. Clearly multiple litters. Note:There are now several islands in the Bahamas where individuals and tour companies have brought pigs to create additional swimming pig attractions. They all have different degrees of care and oversight. Is the Island With Swimming Pigs All Bad? There are also swimming with pig tours from Nassau that go to other islands closer to Nassau. But note, these will not take you to the original swimming pigs, but to places that have placed pigs there to benefit from eager tourists wanting to see them. What to expect from a Swimming with Pigs Bahamas tour? They are not shy about posing!

Before going on this swimming with pigs tour on Pig Beach, Kalyra was adamant she was not swimming with the pigs as they are filthy – despite my protests that they were actually very clean animals. The entire reason I chose this honeymoon destination to swim with the pigs was because I wanted to see pigs who had never been exploitedand who got to live out their entire lives in total freedom. They are exposed to the sun, rain, and especially the harsh Caribbean storms and hurricanes. The pigs are an unusual feral-domestic hybrid.Please help spread the word to let people know that Pig Island is no paradise for the pigs, but rather a tourist attraction not a whole lot different from Sea World or the Zoo. Instead of googling “Where can you swim with pigs?” and booking a flight, plan a trip to an animal sanctuary like Farm Sanctuary or Animal Place ! There are hundreds of sanctuaries all around the world where you can visit pigs, rub their bellies, and support liberation rather than exploitation. The swimming pigs always look so happy and comfortable in the photos, but reality is so different from the pictures. Urge the Government to Take Action A brown pig called Jumper launched out of the water and grabbed my husband’s apples, while a pink one named Princess doggie paddled in predatory circles around my teenage daughter in pursuit of fruit. Just when I thought it couldn’t get weirder, someone exclaimed, “Oh, here comes some poop!” There are several ways you can do a tour swimming pigs in the Exuma Islands. Here are the most popular tour operators and what they offer. 3 N’s Exuma Vacations Swimming with Pigs Tour Who knew they are good swimmers?

We ate at the Flying Pig every day – breakfast, lunch, and dinner – during our four-night stay and loved the freshness of the food. But, if this works for you and you really want to see the pigs, then go for it. It would be a more affordable option and I’m sure others have enjoyed it. As they are fed regularly by tourists who come to see them (healthy food pigs can eat) they pose no threat to the local wildlife as otherwise feral pigs would. Other stops on the Swimming with Pigs Bahamas Tour Of course, it is worth noting that Pig Island has brought incredible positive press for pigs, showing that they are smart, curious, playful, lovable animals not unlike the dogs and cats we adore at home. Presumably, these pigs have inspired countless people to leave pork and bacon of their plate—which is wonderful. Choose A Kinder Adventure In The Bahamas

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Pig bites can be pretty serious. Pigs have strong jaws and can have a very crushing, bone breaking bite. They also often break skin. They can do serious damage.” Pig Bites Can Cause Serious Damage There are plenty of other reasons to visit the Bahamas—the beaches arebeautiful, and you can enjoy activities like snorkeling, paddle boarding, island hopping, and even swimming near wild sharks. The locals are incredibly friendly and kind, and it really is a beautiful place. One Bahamian wrote in sharing the following: We researched the swimming with pig tour carefully before doing it, noting some eco-warrior and animal-lover friends of ours who have also done it.