Several pigs have been killed and thrown into the sea (Picture: Getty)

A number of world-famous swimming pigs have been found dead inthe Bahamas and it isfeared they may have been killed deliberately.

Initial reports said that 15 of the pigs had been killed, but that figure is nowmore likely to be seven or eight. However, that leaves just seven or eight left alive on the Exuma Cays.

They were thrown into the sea after they were discovered on Friday according to the Bahamas Humane Society.

President of the charity, Kim Aranha, told the Tribune: I understand there are seven or eight pigs still alive. Its still unclear on the number of animals that are dead. Id say its more than seven, but certainly not the 15 as initially reported on social media.

She added: It could just be a horrible accident where they ate something poisonous. It could be malicious but I dont really see why someone would go out of their way to hurt those lovely animals.

I know there are a lot of silly sailors that go and feed them alcohol to try and get them drunk but thats not to mistake them with the tour operators based out of Nassau who have treated them with excellent care.

The pigs attract travellers from across the world and there are now fears that their deaths could harm tourism, a major source of income for the islands.

One of the pigs owners, Wayde Nixon, said that he believes they may have been given the wrong food.

He told the Nassau Guardian: Wehad them pigs there almost 30 years, and never has this happened before, but now we are going to have to regulate it.

Right now its blowing out of proportion with people, anybody bringing food there, anybody doing what they [want to] do.

We have people coming there giving the pigs beer, rum, riding on top of them, all kind of stuff.

The remaining pigs are said to be healthy and have been examined and given vaccines as a precation.

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Swimming pigs of the Exuma Cays, Bahama's killed and tourists are ... - Metro