The Bahamas - Home to Unlikely Celebrities
The Bahamas constantly attracts the attention of a long list of celebrities. Over the years, Sean Connery brought his brash James Bond character to the country, and he later settled into a home at Lyford Cay, Bahamas.
Countless others have followed since then. Johnny Depp, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw are just a few who found cozy pieces of paradise in the Exuma cays. However, a short distance from Depp, Hill and McGraw, a new breed of celebrities reside at Big Major’s Cay in the Exumas.
The upstart stars of The Bahamas can be found most days lounging on the beaches of the cay. They bathe in the sun while lying directly on powdery white sands, entertaining the thousands of visitors who flock to meet them annually. Their celebrity has grown to such fanatic heights that people no longer refer to Big Major’s Cay by its proper title. It is simply called Pig Beach, named for the famous swine that inhabit the cay – the swimming pigs of the Exumas.
It is not uncommon to hear fantastic tales about how the animals came to reside on the cay. Some claim that pirates were once shipwrecked there. They managed to escape the island, but had to leave their pigs behind. Others claim that the pirates intentionally off-loaded the pigs on the island as a source of food when they sailed through the country. Still, there are other stories that abound.
The Exuma Tourist Office, however, provided clarity on the matter. It was shortly after the attack on the World Trade Center in 2001 that pigs were deposited onto the cay, according to the former head of the tourism office in Exuma. People living in the area of the cay pooled their resources and bought piglets. The idea was to raise them as livestock in case the earlier events in New York City prevented significant trade across borders. Since trade continued as normal after a short time, they abandoned plans to consume the pigs, who were allowed to live, unbothered, on the cay.
The twist of the story comes as visitors to the area started spontaneously feeding the pigs. They would provide them with treats as they sailed through the cays. However, at some point, the pigs stopped waiting for boaters to land on their shore. Eager to get the treats that they had become used to receiving, these enthusiastic pigs started swimming out to the vessels.
As a result, tourists come to the Exumas from around the world to swim with the famous swimming pigs of Exuma. Their fame grows even larger with every visitor who experiences them. The pigs have now been featured in a European film. They have had countless television show appearances, including a spot on NBC’s Today show, and they have been featured in a promotional video for Angry Birds movie sequel.
Not bad for a pack of pigs from small-town…They have successfully made it. No longer fated for the dinner plate, they are officially among the celebrated residents of The Bahamas.
