The Bahamian government has banned tourists from feeding its famous Exuma swimming pigs after more than half a dozen porcine creatures were found dead.
A draw for tourists, Exuma's Pig Beach on the uninhabited island of Big Major Cay has been populated by doggy-paddling beach Babes for the last 30 years, according to the government's ministry of tourism.
Wayde Nixon, who claims to have originally brought the swine to the island three decades ago, told the Nassau Guardian he believes the swimming pigs may have died of food poisoning.
"We have people coming there giving the pigs beer, rum, riding on top of them, all kind of stuff," Nixon said. "The pigs were given the wrong food."
He said about 15 of the pigs are still "alive and healthy."
Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources V. Alfred Gray said officials have not confirmed the cause of death.
Nixon told the Nassau Guardian that he and his partner are working with the government to regulate the feeding of the swimming pigs.
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The Department of Tourism, the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources have not responded to NBC6's requests for comment.
