Category Archives: Bahamas

Ben Guarino, The Washington Post

A mysterious wave of deaths recently struck Big Major Cay, the uninhabited Bahamas island famous for its tourist-friendly swimming pigs.

Up to half of the pig colony died and the bodies were tossed into the sea, according to reports from over the weekend. Early investigations could not identify an explicit cause of death.

Wayde Nixon, a Bahamas man who brought the pigs to the island decades ago, suggested that tourists killed the animals with a lethal diet. With unrestricted access to the pigs, visitors had been seen giving the animals junk food as well as booze.

"We had the government vet in there [and] examined them all thoroughly," Nixon told the Nassau Guardian. Seven or eight pigs died, he said, leaving about 15 alive. The ones that survived appeared to be healthy.

Kim Aranha, president of Bahamas Humane Society, indicated to the Nassau-based newspaper Tribune 242 that there were fewer pigs remaining on the island than initially reported.

Photo: Barcroft/Barcroft Media Via Getty Images

A pig swimming in the Bahamas. Swimming in the crystal clear waters off the island of Big Major Spot in the Bahamas, these playful swimming pigs wow locals and holiday makers alike. Known locally as "Pig Beach", the brown and pink feral adult pigs and piglets are fed by locals as they trotter along the tropical beaches. After lounging in the sun the piglets run into the water and even sometimes swim out to incoming boats. (Photo by Eric Cheng / Barcroft Media / Getty Images)

A pig swimming in the Bahamas. Swimming in the crystal clear waters off the island of Big Major Spot in the Bahamas, these playful swimming pigs wow locals and holiday makers alike. Known locally as "Pig

View of pig at Island Routes Caribbean Adventure Tour during Sandals Emerald Bay Celebrity Getaway And Golf Weekend on June 3, 2016 in Great Exuma, Bahamas. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Sandals)

View of pig at Island Routes Caribbean Adventure Tour during Sandals Emerald Bay Celebrity Getaway And Golf Weekend on June 3, 2016 in Great Exuma, Bahamas. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for

Two swimming pigs off the island of Big Major Cay, in the central Bahamas.

Two swimming pigs off the island of Big Major Cay, in the central Bahamas.

The famous swimming pink pigs at Staniel Cay on June 15, 2012 in the Islands of the Exumas, The Bahamas. (Photo by EyesWideOpen/Getty Images)

The famous swimming pink pigs at Staniel Cay on June 15, 2012 in the Islands of the Exumas, The Bahamas. (Photo by EyesWideOpen/Getty Images)

A swimming pig off the island of Big Major Cay, in the central Bahamas. These amazing pigs swim every day in the crystal clear waters of the Bahamas. They show off their piggy-paddle to visitors who flock to their beach to see the extraordinary site of wild pigs making a splash in the beautiful turquoise sea. One bright pig called Plato has become so famous he now stars in his own book, The Secret of Pig Island, where his exploits have been captured by photographer and ocean guide, Jim Abernethy, 52, from Florida. As this collection of photographs from the book shows, the pigs are remarkably well adapted to their beach bum lifestyle of frolicking the water and lazing on the sand. (Photo by Jim Abernethy / Barcroft Media / Getty Images)

A swimming pig off the island of Big Major Cay, in the central Bahamas. These amazing pigs swim every day in the crystal clear waters of the Bahamas. They show off their piggy-paddle to visitors who flock to

A swimming pig off the island of Big Major Cay, in the central Bahamas. These amazing pigs swim every day in the crystal clear waters of the Bahamas. They show off their piggy-paddle to visitors who flock to their beach to see the extraordinary site of wild pigs making a splash in the beautiful turquoise sea. One bright pig called Plato has become so famous he now stars in his own book, The Secret of Pig Island, where his exploits have been captured by photographer and ocean guide, Jim Abernethy, 52, from Florida. As this collection of photographs from the book shows, the pigs are remarkably well adapted to their beach bum lifestyle of frolicking the water and lazing on the sand. (Photo by Jim Abernethy / Barcroft Media / Getty Images)

A swimming pig off the island of Big Major Cay, in the central Bahamas. These amazing pigs swim every day in the crystal clear waters of the Bahamas. They show off their piggy-paddle to visitors who flock

A pig on the beach on the island of Big Major Cay, in the central Bahamas. These amazing pigs swim every day in the crystal clear waters of the Bahamas. They show off their piggy-paddle to visitors who flock to their beach to see the extraordinary site of wild pigs making a splash in the beautiful turquoise sea. One bright pig called Plato has become so famous he now stars in his own book, The Secret of Pig Island, where his exploits have been captured by photographer and ocean guide, Jim Abernethy, 52, from Florida. As this collection of photographs from the book shows, the pigs are remarkably well adapted to their beach bum lifestyle of frolicking the water and lazing on the sand. (Photo by Jim Abernethy / Barcroft Media / Getty Images)

A pig on the beach on the island of Big Major Cay, in the central Bahamas. These amazing pigs swim every day in the crystal clear waters of the Bahamas. They show off their piggy-paddle to visitors who flock to

A pig (Sus scrofa domestica) swimming in the Bahamas. Swimming in the crystal clear waters off the island of Big Major Spot in the Bahamas, these playful swimming pigs wow locals and holiday makers alike. Known locally as "Pig Beach", the brown and pink feral adult pigs and piglets are fed by locals as they trotter along the tropical beaches. After lounging in the sun the piglets run into the water and even sometimes swim out to incoming boats. (Photo by Eric Cheng / Barcroft Media / Getty Images)

A pig (Sus scrofa domestica) swimming in the Bahamas. Swimming in the crystal clear waters off the island of Big Major Spot in the Bahamas, these playful swimming pigs wow locals and holiday makers alike.

Mother and baby pig on a beach in the Bahamas. Swimming in the crystal clear waters off the island of Big Major Spot in the Bahamas, these playful swimming pigs wow locals and holiday makers alike. Known locally as "Pig Beach", the brown and pink feral adult pigs and piglets are fed by locals as they trotter along the tropical beaches. After lounging in the sun the piglets run into the water and even sometimes swim out to incoming boats. (Photo by Eric Cheng / Barcroft Media / Getty Images)

Mother and baby pig on a beach in the Bahamas. Swimming in the crystal clear waters off the island of Big Major Spot in the Bahamas, these playful swimming pigs wow locals and holiday makers alike. Known

Mysterious wave of death strikes the Bahamas famous swimming pigs

"I understand there are seven or eight pigs still alive," Aranha said, though she said this was about equal to the number of deaths. Veterinarians collected samples of the dead pigs, but it was unclear how long a laboratory analysis would take.

"It's really a mystery as to what killed these beautiful animals. I believe most of the carcasses were in the ocean," Aranha told the Tribune. "It could just be a horrible accident where they ate something poisonous. It could be malicious but I don't really see why someone would go out of their way to hurt those lovely animals."

She added that there were "silly sailors" who were known to try to get the pigs drunk. But tour operators out of Nassau treated the animals with respect, she said.

Part of the Exuma island chain, Big Major Cay, also known as Pig Beatch, sits in the Caribbean Sea to the southeast of Nassau. Until the deaths, the cay had been billed as a sort of porcine paradise. The pigs dog-paddled through the crystal sea, drank from the island's spring of fresh water and got fat on a steady supply of food brought by tourists, who visited the island by the boatload.

But selfie-happy tourists were not the only indignities that the four-legged residents survived in recent years. The pig colony endured an invasion of bikini-clad reality show contestants during an episode of "The Bachelor." The pigs had a brief cameo in the 2013 music video for "Timber," the Pitbull dance-pop number featuring Ke$ha. Fueled by celebrity visits, a feature on NBC's "Today Show" and a beach made for Instagram, the pigs' popularity expanded.

So, too, did their origin stories. Ancient mariners had left the pigs behind on the island, some said. The cache of would-be pork was forgotten, then rediscovered. Or perhaps the beasts were the only living remainder of a crashed pirate ship. That foreigners had accidentally released pigs into the Bahamian wilds was not an alien narrative. Feral boars on the Great Inagua Island, to the south of Pig Beach, were descendants of pigs housed in a mid-1700s French garrison.

The truth, according to the "Today Show," was that the swimming pigs were the result of a more recent fable. When fears about the cataclysmic Millennium bug reached a fever pitch in the late 1990s, two farmers, fearing that food supplies would crash along with computers, bought the pigs and raised them on the island.

After the pigs were discovered dead over the weekend, Nixon, one half of the Y2K farmer pair, lamented that the Pig Beach phenomenon had spiraled out of control.

"Right now it's blowing out of proportion with people, anybody bringing food there, anybody doing what they [want to] do," Nixon told the Nassau Guardian. "We have people coming there giving the pigs beer, rum, riding on top of them, all kind of stuff."

The Bahamas government has now barred tourists from feeding the pigs. Nixon sought support from the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism to restrict visitors from getting too close to the pigs. Establishing a safe viewing distance would still allow tourists to photograph the famous swimming pigs, he said, while protecting the animals that remain.

Continue reading here:

Mysterious wave of death strikes the Bahamas famous swimming pigs - SFGate

NASSAU, Bahamas, March 3, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism regrets the deaths of several of the swimming pigs, as recently reported.

The world-famous swimming pigs of Exuma attract millions of visitors to The Bahamas annually. The Bahamas remains a wonderful destination for visitors and scores of pigs still await visitors on Big Major Cay (Pig Beach), Exuma.

Bahamian Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources, V. Alfred Gray, has said that the pigs found dead on the cay were found to have died from ingesting sand. Minister Gray said a report from the chief veterinary officer in his ministry concluded that some of the pigs had "a good amount of sand" in their stomachs.

The Minister concluded that in conjunction with the appropriate agencies, protocols will be put in place to govern the industry and protect the animals.

For more information about the swimming pigs visit bahamas.com/swimmingpigs.

The Islands Of The Bahamas have a place in the sun for everyone. Each island has its own personality and attractions for a variety of vacation styles with some of the world's best golfing, scuba diving, fishing, sailing, boating, as well as, shopping and dining. The destination offers an easily accessible tropical getaway and provides convenience for travelers with preclearance through U.S. customs and immigration, and the Bahamian dollar is on par with the U.S. dollar. Do everything or do nothing, just remember It's Better in The Bahamas. For travel packages, activities and accommodations information, call 1-800-Bahamas or visit http://www.Bahamas.com. Look for The Bahamas on the web on Facebook Twitter and YouTube

Photos accompanying this release are available at: http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=42238 http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=42239

See the rest here:

Bahamas Ministry of Tourism's statement on The Swimming Pigs of Big Major Cay, Exuma - Yahoo Finance

Yesterday, the U.S. Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) issued a security message for U.S. Citizens traveling to Nassau, Bahamas), titled Staying Safe during Spring Break in the Bahamas.

It starts with: "avoid being alone with strangers, jet ski, taxi, or scooter operators. Be particularly cautious on secluded beaches; criminals target such isolated areas. When traveling, use only clearly marked buses or taxis, as unlicensed taxi drivers have been linked to a variety of violent crimes."

The warning ""strongly" recommends that travelers "avoid patronizing jet ski rental operations" who "continue to commit sexual assaults and other crimes against tourists."

It warnsnot to "allow yourself to be driven off alone with a scooter operator. Unlicensed scooter operators and rental services have been linked to assaults, including sexual assaults."

OSAC cautions against excessive drinking ashore -"Visitors found alone or incapacitated have been victims of sexual assault, robbery, and physical assault. Watch your drink at all times. Intoxicated young women may be targeted for drugging and sexual assault."

OSAC refers to the U.S. State Department's warning that "the criminal threat level for New Providence Island (includes Nassau and Paradise Island) is rated as critical." The critical crime warning reads:

"Armed robbery and sexual assault are major criminal threats facing U.S. citizens in New Providence. The U.S. Embassy has received multiple reports indicating tourists have been robbed at gunpoint or knifepoint in tourist locations in the downtown areas of Nassau; several of these incidents occurred during daylight hours. The U.S. Embassy has received reports of sexual assaults in tourist areas as well. The Bahamas has one of the highest incidences of sexual assault in the Caribbean . . "

If you are a parent of a teenager or a college student cruising to Nassau this month on Spring Break, I suggest discussing these issues.

Have a thought? Please leave a comment or join the discussion on our Facebook page.

Photo credit:Jpatokal at wts wikivoyage - GFDL, commons / wikimedia (top photo of Bay Street in Nassau); TampAGS, for AGS Media - CC BY-SA 3.0, commons / wikimedia (bottom photo of cruise wharf in Nassau).

Read more:

Another Crime Warning for Travelers to Nassau, Bahamas - Cruise Law News

Perry Christie apologized in Parliament.

NASSAU, The Bahamas, Thursday March 2, 2017 A sombre and penitent Bahamian Prime Minister Perry Christie faced the nation yesterday and apologized for theobscene gesture he made at a political meeting earlier this week.

Christie, who has been at the centre of a public furor after sticking up his middle finger at a public meetingon Monday night, offered his deepest expression of regret in a statement delivered in the House of Assembly yesterday.

I really stand to express my regret, to indicate specifically that it related to specific individuals, he said.

At the political meeting held in Fox Hill, a pumped up Christie shocked his supporters when he made the gesture, after detailing that it was how he had responded to man who challenged him to deny that he owned a particular condominium.

Yesterday, a more composed Christie insisted the gesture was not him, but he took responsibility for losing control while defending his family.

There was never any intention to speak to any other person or issue other than those who were attacking me or my familyand I would hope that those who may have been offended by it who were present, would accept that that is a matter that I would not have wished that I did.

He used the occasion to vent his frustration about persistent malicious attacks against his family.

Christie said that he makes an effort to ensure his family is not subjected to any degree of embarrassment regarding his conduct, but admitted it was exceedingly difficult and sometimes he did not know how to respond.

He questioned why the public, even those in the Christian community, did not speak out against unfair and false allegations levelled against him and his family and, by extension, other members of the wider public.

What is it about Christian charity, or the lack of it, that stops right-thinking persons from making interventions in public life to say that what you said about that lady is not right; it is not the right thing to do?

However, the Prime Minister urged the countrys young people not to see his inappropriate action as an example to follow.

Asking and answering whether he would do it again, in that place, at that time, on that occasion, for the reasons I was speaking, he said, the answer is no.

Click hereto receive news via email from Caribbean360. (View sample)

Read the rest here:

Bahamas PM Apologizes For Flipping Bird, Saying He Lost Control While Defending Family - Caribbean360.com (subscription)

03 MAR 2017 Press Release Monaco

With the deadline for preliminary entries now closed, the IAAF World Relays Bahamas 2017 is set to be the biggest edition of the event so far.

Based on the preliminary entry figures, more than 700 athletes from 42 nations have expressed an interest in competing in Nassau on 22-23 April. Seven of those nations Belarus, Democratic Republic of Congo, Czech Republic, The Gambia, Ghana, India, and South Africa will be making their IAAF World Relays debut.

Even with the expected slight drop in figures, the entries for this years World Relays should surpass the first two editions. The inaugural World Relays in 2014 welcomed 576 athletes, while 669 athletes competed in Nassau in 2015.

The 2017 programme will consist of five events over four relay disciplines: the 4x100m, 4x200m, 4x400m and 4x800m for both men and women, and a mixed 4x400m which will cap the competition's second day.

The top eight finishers in the 4x100m and 4x400m for both men and women will earn automatic entry for the IAAF World Championships London 2017 to be held later this year.

IAAF

Read more from the original source:

IAAF World Relays Bahamas 2017 set to be biggest one yet| News ... - International Association of Athletics Federations

A mysterious wave of deaths recently struckBig Major Cay, theuninhabited Bahamas islandfamous for its tourist-friendly swimming pigs.

Up tohalf of the pig colony died and the bodies were tossed into the sea, according to reports from over the weekend. Early investigationscould not identify an explicit cause of death.

Wayde Nixon, a Bahamas man who brought the pigs to the island decades ago, suggestedthat tourists killed the animals with a lethal diet. Withunrestricted access to the pigs, visitors had been seen giving the animals junk food as well as booze.

We had the government vet in there [and] examined them all thoroughly, Nixon told the Nassau Guardian.Seven or eight pigs died, he said, leaving about 15 alive. The ones that survived appeared to be healthy.

Kim Aranha, president of the Bahamas Humane Society, indicated to the Nassau-based newspaper Tribune 242 that there were fewer pigs remaining on the island than initially reported.

I understand there are seven or eight pigs still alive, Aranha said, though she said this was about equal to the number of deaths.Veterinarians collected samples of the dead pigs,but it was unclear how long a laboratory analysis would take.

Its really a mystery as to what killed these beautiful animals. I believe most of the carcasses were in the ocean, Aranha told the Tribune. 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.

She added that there were silly sailors who were known to try to get the pigs drunk. But tour operators out of Nassau treated the animals with respect, she said.

Part of the Exuma island chain, Big Major Cay, also known as Pig Beach, isin theCaribbean Sea to the southeast of Nassau. Until the deaths, the cay had been billed as a sort of porcine paradise. The pigs dog-paddled through the crystal sea, drank from the islandsspring of fresh water and got fat on a steady supply of food brought by tourists, who visited the island by the boatload.

But selfie-happy tourists were not the only indignitiesthat the four-legged residents survived in recent years. The pig colony endured an invasion of bikini-clad reality show contestants during an episode of The Bachelor. The pigs had a brief cameoin the 2013music video for Timber, the Pitbull dance-pop number featuring Ke$ha. Fueled by celebrity visits, a featureon NBCsToday show and a beach made for Instagram, the pigs popularity expanded.

So, too, did their origin stories. Ancient mariners had left the pigs behind on the island, some said. The cache of would-be pork was forgotten, then rediscovered. Or perhaps the beasts were the only living remainder of a crashed pirate ship.That foreigners had accidentally released pigs into the Bahamian wilds was not an alien narrative. Feral boarson the Great Inagua Island, to the south of Pig Beach, were descendants of pigs housed ina mid-1700sFrench garrison.

The truth, according to the Today show, was that the swimming pigs were the result of a more recent fable. When fears about thecataclysmic Y2Kmillennium bugreached a fever pitch in the late 1990s,two farmers, fearing that food supplies would crash along with computers,bought the pigs and raised them on the island.

After the pigs were discovered dead over the weekend, Nixon, oneof the two farmers, lamented that the Pig Beach phenomenon had spiraled out of control.

Right now its blowing out of proportion with people, anybody bringing food there, anybody doing whatthey [want to] do, he toldthe Nassau Guardian.We have people coming there giving the pigs beer, rum, riding on top of them, all kind of stuff.

The Bahamas government hasnow barred tourists from feeding the pigs. Nixon sought support from the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism to restrict visitors from getting too close to the pigs. Establishing a safe viewing distance would still allow tourists to photograph the famous swimming pigs, he said, while protecting theanimals that remain.

More from Morning Mix

The special way hundreds of storm chasers honored Twister star Bill Paxton

I just feel blessed: Mahershala Ali becomes first Muslim actor to win an Oscar

Video shows Tucson police shoving 86-year-old woman to pavement

See original here:

Mysterious wave of death strikes the Bahamas' famous swimming pigs - Washington Post

Several of the Bahamas' famous colony of swimming pigs have died after tourists allegedly fed them junk food and alcohol, multiple sources report.

According to The Independent, seven of the pigs were found dead and floating in the water near the Exuma Cays last week, leaving around 15 members of the colony alive. Wayde Nixon, one of the pigs' owners who brought them to the uninhabited island years ago, stated that the cause of death was due to the animals being fed the "wrong food." However, local officials state that they're still investigating other possible causes.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Getty

We had the government vet in there [who] examined them all thoroughly," Nixon told The Nassau Guardian. "He gave them shots, he gave them medicine, and I was there and I worked with them for three days straight. We had 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," he continued. "We have people coming there giving the pigs beer, rum, riding on top of them, all kinds of stuff.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Getty

The island's exceptionally friendly swimming pigs have long cohabited peacefully with tourists, who visit the island in hopes of getting to swim alongside them. However, because of this heartbreaking incident, officials now state that new regulations will be put into place that will prevent tourists from being able to feed them.

Its really a mystery, president of the Bahamas Humane Society Kim Aranha told a local newspaper. 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.

Follow Gina on Twitter.

Originally posted here:

Famous Swimming Pigs in the Bahamas Found Dead After Tourists Give Them Alcohol - Cosmopolitan.com

Rosewood Hotels & Resorts has been appointed by the Bahamian subsidiary of Hong Kong-based development company Chow Tai Fook Enterprises (CTFE) to operate and manage Rosewood Baha Mar in Nassau, Bahamas, which will open in Spring 2018. Set on the gorgeous white sands of Nassaus Cable Beach, Rosewood Baha Mar will be a sanctuary of exclusivity, located within the stunning Baha Mar Resort multi-property oasis in the Caribbean.

4Rosewood Hotels & Resorts has had a relationship with Baha Mar since 2011, and we are truly excited to re-engage as the operator of Baha Mars luxury resort through our partnership with CTFE, Baha Mar Resorts new owner, says Sonia Cheng, chief executive officer of Rosewood Hotel Group. We are fully committed to this project and look forward to raising our flag in The Bahamas as originally planned.

Featuring elegant British colonial architecture and interior styling, Rosewood Baha Mar will epitomize Bahamian refinement and sophistication. The resort will offer 185 ocean view rooms and suites, as well as five luxurious beachfront villas, which will be contemporary and residential in style. Each accommodation will be elegantly appointed with refined Bahamian art and dcor. Of note, all guestrooms will boast private balconies with outdoor living areas, while the luxurious four-bedroom villas will offer exceptional tranquility, exclusive services and a private pool.

Amenities at Rosewood Baha Mar will include four signature dining venues including Commonwealth, a farm-to-table restaurant that will include a private Rum Room for exclusive, island-style dinners; the Pool Grille an inspired, al fresco poolside restaurant that will serve fresh seafood, grilled dishes and cocktails; Bar Riva, a relaxed, nautical-themed bar where guests will enjoy craft cocktails and small plates, and the Library Lounge, which will feature Bahamian-style afternoon tea and unique tea cocktails. Recreational facilities will include Sense, A Rosewood Spa, salon, barber shop, fitness center, two private swimming pools and luxury cabanas. Additionally, guests will have direct and private beach access.

Eight meeting and event spaces will provide the perfect setting for corporate meetings, retreats and incentives. The venues including a 4,950-square-foot ballroom, meeting room, boardrooms, private dining room and two al fresco event areas will offer exquisite catering, refined service and state-of the art technology.

Rosewood Baha Mar will join a regional network of distinctive Rosewood properties in the Caribbean and Atlantic, including Jumby Bay, A Rosewood Resort, Rosewood Tuckers Point and Rosewood Little Dix Bay, which is slated to re-open in 2017.

Original post:

Rosewood Baha Mar in Nassau, Bahamas to open in 2018 | Rus ... - RusTourismNews

The Bahama Journal

PM is Unstable, says Dr. Minnis The Bahama Journal Furthermore, Dr. Minnis charged that the prime minister has personality challenges. And our prime minister must know that regardless to where he is, he represents The Bahamas and should behave accordingly, Dr. Minnis said. His arrogance has no limits. and more »

Excerpt from:

PM is Unstable, says Dr. Minnis - The Bahama Journal

A mysterious wave of deaths recently struck Big Major Cay, the uninhabited Bahamas island famous for its tourist-friendly swimming pigs.

Up to half of the pig colony died and the bodies were tossed into the sea, according to reports from over the weekend. Early investigations could not identify an explicit cause of death.

Wayde Nixon, a Bahamas man who brought the pigs to the island decades ago, suggested that tourists killed the animals with a lethal diet. With unrestricted access to the pigs, visitors had been seen giving the animals junk food as well as booze.

We had the government vet in there [and] examined them all thoroughly, Nixon told the Nassau Guardian. Seven or eight pigs died, he said, leaving about 15 alive. The ones that survived appeared to be healthy.

Its really a mystery as to what killed these beautiful animals

Kim Aranha, president of Bahamas Humane Society, indicated to the Nassau-based newspaper Tribune 242 that there were fewer pigs remaining on the island than initially reported.

I understand there are seven or eight pigs still alive, Aranha said, though she said this was about equal to the number of deaths. Veterinarians collected samples of the dead pigs, but it was unclear how long a laboratory analysis would take.

Its really a mystery as to what killed these beautiful animals. I believe most of the carcasses were in the ocean, Aranha told the Tribune. 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.

She added that there were silly sailors who were known to try to get the pigs drunk. But tour operators out of Nassau treated the animals with respect, she said.

Part of the Exuma island chain, Big Major Cay, also known as Pig Beatch, sits in the Caribbean Sea to the southeast of Nassau. Until the deaths, the cay had been billed as a sort of porcine paradise. The pigs dog-paddled through the crystal sea, drank from the islands spring of fresh water and got fat on a steady supply of food brought by tourists, who visited the island by the boatload.

But selfie-happy tourists were not the only indignities that the four-legged residents survived in recent years. The pig colony endured an invasion of bikini-clad reality show contestants during an episode of The Bachelor. The pigs had a brief cameo in the 2013 music video for Timber, the Pitbull dance-pop number featuring Ke$ha. Fueled by celebrity visits, a feature on NBCs Today Show and a beach made for Instagram, the pigs popularity expanded.

So, too, did their origin stories. Ancient mariners had left the pigs behind on the island, some said. The cache of would-be pork was forgotten, then rediscovered. Or perhaps the beasts were the only living remainder of a crashed pirate ship. That foreigners had accidentally released pigs into the Bahamian wilds was not an alien narrative. Feral boars on the Great Inagua Island, to the south of Pig Beach, were descendants of pigs housed in a mid-1700s French garrison.

The truth, according to the Today Show, was that the swimming pigs were the result of a more recent fable. When fears about the cataclysmic Millennium bug reached a fever pitch in the late 1990s, two farmers, fearing that food supplies would crash along with computers, bought the pigs and raised them on the island.

After the pigs were discovered dead over the weekend, Nixon, one half of the Y2K farmer pair, lamented that the Pig Beach phenomenon had spiraled out of control.

Right now its blowing out of proportion with people, anybody bringing food there, anybody doing what they [want to] do, Nixon told the Nassau Guardian. We have people coming there giving the pigs beer, rum, riding on top of them, all kind of stuff.

The Bahamas government has now barred tourists from feeding the pigs. Nixon sought support from the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism to restrict visitors from getting too close to the pigs. Establishing a safe viewing distance would still allow tourists to photograph the famous swimming pigs, he said, while protecting the animals that remain.

Read the original post:

'It's really a mystery': Wave of death strikes the Bahamas famous swimming pigs - National Post