7 out of around 22 famous Bahamian swimming pigs were found dead after tourists reportedly fed them alcohol. One of the pig’s owners, Wayde Nixon, told The Nassau Guardian: “The pigs were given the wrong food… We had them pigs there almost 30 years, and never has this happened before.” He added: “Right now it’s blowing out of proportion with people, anybody, bringing food there… giving the pigs beer, rum, riding on top of them, all kinds of stuff.”
“The family of pigs, dubbed ‘adorable’ by tourists, locals and media alike, have become incredibly popular,” says The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism website. “They live freely on the sandy beaches… The pigs, though feral, are exceptionally friendly,” it continues, “running from under the shade of the almond trees to greet visitors that bring them treats.”
However, after the recent incident, some regulations will have to be introduced. V Alfred Gray, the country’s Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources, said from now on “people will be able to take photographs and see the pigs swim… but they will not be able to feed them things.”