Pig Beach[1] located on Big Major Cay[2] (also known as Major Cay[3]) is a beach on an uninhabited island (or cay) located in Exuma, the Bahamas. The island takes its unofficial name from the fact that it is populated by a colony of feral pigs which live on the island. It has become a tourist attraction in modern times.
Exuma is a district of the Bahamas, and consists of over 360 islands.[6] Near Big Major Cay is Staniel Cay.[7] There are three freshwater springs on the island.[7]
History
Anecdotal history
A single, factual account of how the pigs ended up on the cay does not appear to exist. Folklore and various theories claim a number of different scenarios including pirates.[8]
Some say the pigs are said to have been dropped off on Big Major Cay by a group of sailors who wanted to come back and cook them. The sailors, though, never returned; the pigs survived on excess food dumped from passing ships.[citation needed]
Another legend has it that the pigs were survivors of a shipwreck and managed to swim to shore, while other accounts claim that the pigs had escaped from a nearby islet.[9] Yet others suggest that the pigs were part of a business scheme to attract tourists to the Bahamas[citation needed] while another claims the pigs were stocked on the island in the 1990s by residents of nearby Staniel Cay to raise for food.[5]
Modern day
The pigs are now fed by residents from neighboring islands and tourists[10][self-published source] and the island is unofficially known as Pig Beach by both locals and tourists.[11]
In 2017, a number of the resident pigs were found dead[12] which caused speculation regarding the cause of death including claims of tourists feeding pigs alcohol or the pigs ingesting sand.[13][14][4]
Demographics and fauna
Big Major Cay is an island uninhabited by humans.[15] The pig population was estimated between fifty and sixty pigs as of 2019.[5] A few stray cats[16] and goats[17] can be found on the island as well.
Travel and tourism
From Nassau to Pig Beach is 89 miles (143 km) and takes 2 hours by speed boat. A number of tour operators offer both private and group trips from Great Exuma, Staniel Cay, and other nearby cays.
Popular culture
Pig beach has become a popular topic on social media sites like Instagram and featured in the television series, The Bachelor.[18] Some people claim to have been bitten by a pig while visiting.[19] They have been written about in a book and claim to be featured in a documentary.[20]
beach, located, major, also, known, major, beach, uninhabited, island, located, exuma, bahamas, island, takes, unofficial, name, from, fact, that, populated, colony, feral, pigs, which, live, island, become, tourist, attraction, modern, times, major, caynickna. Pig Beach 1 located on Big Major Cay 2 also known as Major Cay 3 is a beach on an uninhabited island or cay located in Exuma the Bahamas The island takes its unofficial name from the fact that it is populated by a colony of feral pigs which live on the island It has become a tourist attraction in modern times Big Major CayNickname Pig BeachPigs swimming in the BahamasBig Major CayGeographyLocationthe AmericasArchipelagoExuma CaysTotal islands1Major islands1AdministrationThe Commonwealth of the BahamasCapital cityNassauLargest settlementNassau pop 248 948 as of 2010 update Prime MinisterHubert MinnisThe pigs are known in popular culture as the swimming pigs 4 although other islands with swimming pigs exist in the Bahamas 5 Contents 1 Geography and features 2 History 2 1 Anecdotal history 2 2 Modern day 3 Demographics and fauna 4 Travel and tourism 5 Popular culture 6 See also 7 ReferencesGeography and featuresSee also Exuma Cays Exuma is a district of the Bahamas and consists of over 360 islands 6 Near Big Major Cay is Staniel Cay 7 There are three freshwater springs on the island 7 HistoryAnecdotal history A single factual account of how the pigs ended up on the cay does not appear to exist Folklore and various theories claim a number of different scenarios including pirates 8 Some say the pigs are said to have been dropped off on Big Major Cay by a group of sailors who wanted to come back and cook them The sailors though never returned the pigs survived on excess food dumped from passing ships citation needed Another legend has it that the pigs were survivors of a shipwreck and managed to swim to shore while other accounts claim that the pigs had escaped from a nearby islet 9 Yet others suggest that the pigs were part of a business scheme to attract tourists to the Bahamas citation needed while another claims the pigs were stocked on the island in the 1990s by residents of nearby Staniel Cay to raise for food 5 Modern day The pigs are now fed by residents from neighboring islands and tourists 10 self published source and the island is unofficially known as Pig Beach by both locals and tourists 11 In 2017 a number of the resident pigs were found dead 12 which caused speculation regarding the cause of death including claims of tourists feeding pigs alcohol or the pigs ingesting sand 13 14 4 Demographics and faunaBig Major Cay is an island uninhabited by humans 15 The pig population was estimated between fifty and sixty pigs as of 2019 5 A few stray cats 16 and goats 17 can be found on the island as well Travel and tourismFrom Nassau to Pig Beach is 89 miles 143 km and takes 2 hours by speed boat A number of tour operators offer both private and group trips from Great Exuma Staniel Cay and other nearby cays Popular culturePig beach has become a popular topic on social media sites like Instagram and featured in the television series The Bachelor 18 Some people claim to have been bitten by a pig while visiting 19 They have been written about in a book and claim to be featured in a documentary 20 See also nbsp Caribbean portal nbsp Geography portal nbsp Animals portal nbsp Media related to Pig Beach at Wikimedia Commons Staniel Cay Exuma List of islands of the BahamasReferences Ripley s Believe It or Not Annual 2013 Ripley 11 September 2012 ISBN 978 1 60991 032 7 Swimming with Pigs The Island of the Bahamas Archived from the original on March 8 2016 Retrieved February 28 2013 The Bahamas Guidebook Chapter Chapter from Caribbean Islands travel guide book 6 ed Lonely Planet 2012 ISBN 9781743210826 a b Daley Jason What Killed More Than Half a Dozen of the Bahamas Swimming Pigs Smithsonian Magazine Retrieved 2020 05 27 a b c Rhodes Wendy Hurricane Dorian What happened to the beloved swimming pigs of The Bahamas The Palm Beach Post Retrieved 2020 05 27 Exuma The Official Website of the Government of the Bahamas Retrieved February 27 2013 a b Susannah Cahalan January 30 2011 Pig Kahuna is bacon on own island New York Post Retrieved March 1 2013 Villano Matt 9 October 2018 The Bahamas beach where piggies swim CNN Retrieved 2020 05 27 Greaves Gabbadon Sarah Best Bahamas Trips Swim with Pigs in the Exumas Caribbean Travel Magazine Archived from the original on March 7 2016 Retrieved February 28 2013 Moorhouse Austin E 2004 Halcyon Days From A Dream To Reality Trafford Publishing ISBN 9781412016650 Pigs swim in sea in Bahamas The Telegraph July 16 2009 Retrieved February 27 2013 Widely Adored Swimming Pigs Found Dead in the Bahamas Travel Leisure Retrieved 2020 05 27 This Is What Really Killed The Famous Swimming Pigs National Geographic News 2017 03 04 Archived from the original on August 7 2019 Retrieved 2020 05 27 Tourists Were Giving the Bahamas Pigs Alcohol Officials Say Travel Leisure Retrieved 2020 05 27 Swimming Pigs of Big Major Cay Atlas Obscura Retrieved February 27 2013 Frommer s ShortCuts 2012 The Exumas Bahamas Frommer s ShortCuts 2 ed John Wiley amp Sons ISBN 9781118470343 McRae Mavis May 23 2012 The Bahamas Wild Pigs Meet Dr Sylvia Earle And Mission Blue PHOTOS Huffington Post Retrieved February 28 2013 Everything to Know About Swimming With Pigs in the Bahamas Travel Leisure Retrieved 2020 05 27 Baxter Wright Dusty 2019 07 07 Pig beach is the Instagram hotspot you need to know about Cosmopolitan Retrieved 2020 05 27 Villano Matt 9 October 2018 The Bahamas beach where piggies swim CNN Retrieved 2020 05 27 24 11 01 N 76 27 23 W 24 18361 N 76 45639 W 24 18361 76 45639 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pig Beach amp oldid 1186299048, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
