Now there’s something you don’t see everyday.
Trotting along the beach in the midday sun these playful feral pigs
love nothing more than to take a dip in the tropical waters of the
Bahamas.
For full story and pictures:
Pictured here on the beaches of Big Major Spot Island, the family of
brown and pink boars and piglets live freely on the sandy white
beaches and even swim in the tropical surf.
Aptly named “Pig Beach” by locals, underwater photographer Eric Cheng
stumbled across the unusual residents during a diving expedition.
“We were in the southern Bahamas to photograph oceanic white-tip
sharks,” says the 33-year-old.
“Our captain, Jim Abernethy, had heard that there were pigs on Big
Major so we decided to go and check it out.
“Upon approaching the white sandy beach, it is easy to spot the pigs -
both pink and dark brown – laying in the sand.
“You never know what you’ll see when you’re out tracking down wildlife!”
Pigs are omnivorous animals found throughout Africa, Europe and Asia.
However one species, the domestic pig (Sus Scrofa), are found almost
worldwide as a domestic and feral species.
“I’m not sure how these domestic pigs (gone feral) came to live on
this particular beach in the Bahamas, but they are well-known to
locals, who have been feeding them for years,” says Eric.
“Because locals bring food, the pigs will run into the water and
actually swim out to the oncoming boats, as if to greet them
individually.
“It is strange enough to see pigs laying around on tropical beaches of
white sand, but to see them then charge into the water to greet
oncoming boats is just bizarre!”
Spending several hours photographing and playing with the pigs, Eric
and his team even managed to join them for a swim.
“Nadine Umbscheiden, one of the photographers was so at ease with them
that she managed to swim with them,” reveals Eric.
“We dubbed her the “pig whisperer” because she was so good at getting
the pigs to swim to our cameras!”
Aside from his photographic exploits, Eric is the editor and
publisher of Wetpixel.com, and is technical advisor and photographer
for Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.
For Eric however, his trip to the “Bay of Pigs” proved to be one of
his strangest photo-shoots to date.
Words by Jack Fletcher
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