Zien: op dit eiland kun je zwemmen met varkens (en ze vinden het bijzonder leuk!)

Wilden we eerst onze koffers pakken om asap naar dit Japanse eiland te vliegen waar katten de baas zijn, zijn we nu sterk aan het twijfelen om toch maar door te vliegen naar de Bahama’s. Want de Bahama’s, dat is eeuwige zon, tropische stranden, kristalhelder water en… een eiland waar je met varkens kunt zwemmen.

Varkens die in volledige harmonie met de natuur leven op een paradijselijk eiland, het lijkt onwaarschijnlijk en toch bestaat het. Pig Island, of Big Major Cay zoals het eiland officieel heet, is één van de kleinere eilanden van de Bahama’s en is onbewoond, behalve door een kolonie gelukkige varkentjes dus.

Hoe de varkens daar ooit gestrand zijn? Niemand die het met zekerheid weet. Wellicht waren het slachtvarkens die door zeilers op het eiland gedropt werden met de bedoeling ze later op te eten. Maar dat gebeurde uiteindelijk niet en de varkentjes hadden al vlug door dat het leven op zo’n exotisch eiland nog niet zo slecht is. Er is volop zuiver bronwater en voedsel aanwezig. En wanneer een schip het eiland voorbij vaart, zwemmen er steevast een aantal varkens de zee in, in de hoop getrakteerd te worden op iets extra’s.

Deze foto’s vonden we op Instagram:

Good morning Monday!!! ???? #beach#sun#sunshine#love#friends#pigs#beach#Bahamas#pigbeach#mondaze#behappy#benteviswimwear

A photo posted by B E N T E V I S W I M W E A R (@benteviswimwear) on Sep 28, 2015 at 10:24am PDT

Be free, Be happy and swim as a pig? #bahamas #bahamasisland #pig #pigs #pigbeach #bigmajorcay #sea #ocean #free #freedom #animals #happy #swimming #cute #cuteness

A photo posted by Anita Gómez (@nussgomez) on Sep 29, 2015 at 3:59pm PDT

É nas Bahamas que vários porcos nadam em águas cristalinas e vivem suas melhores férias, mais precisamente em Big Major Cay, ilha inabitada que faz parte do arquipélago de Exuma Cays. Conheça a #IlhadosPorcos no FTC! Link na bio! / Meet the official home of the swimming pigs: Major Cay at Bahamas. Check it out at FTC! #pigisland #viagem #travel #traveluv #majorcay #porcos #pigs #followthecolours #pigbeach

A photo posted by Follow The Colours (@ftc_insta) on Oct 22, 2015 at 1:07pm PDT

Gimme a damn carrot. #pigbeach #bahamas #fowlcay #swimmingpigs

A photo posted by Maggie Zackowitz (@mzacko) on Nov 6, 2015 at 8:06pm PST

#pig #pigbeach #beach #piggy #swinia #swinka #wieprzowina świnka obronna przed religią pokoju

A photo posted by Natalia (@natalia.paulina) on Nov 14, 2015 at 8:36am PST

Today’s adventures were great fun. Tomorrow’s promise to be ‘funner’! Sweet dreams ?? Photo: @artecmedia ? ・・・ #exumadream #pigbeach #sleep #sweetdreams #itsbetterinexuma #swimmingpigs

A photo posted by Exuma Dream (@exumadream) on Nov 19, 2015 at 6:26pm PST

#pigbeach two weeks from today!!! #bahamas @cristinalbruni are you ready for thissss? Bring your selfie stick!! ???

A photo posted by Sarah (@snienburg) on Nov 23, 2015 at 3:44am PST

?? #pigbeach

A photo posted by Karolina Mrozkova (@karolinamrozkova) on Nov 25, 2015 at 1:34pm PST

Well swimming with pigs at Pig Island in the Bahamas is definitely on our #bucketlist! ??? Awesome image by ? @alinasemjonov ???? #caribbean @theswimmingpigs @exumawatersports

A photo posted by #travelhub to be featured ? (@travelhub) on Dec 2, 2015 at 2:36pm PST

Phew! I need a breather! …………??? at Pig Beach Bahamas #pigbeach #bahamas #bahamabreeze #pig #luxurylife #poshpets #paradise #positivity #motivation #luxury ##luxurytraveler #luxurylife #luxurytravel Image: Stanielclay.com

A photo posted by James W Phillips (@luxury_news_online) on Dec 10, 2015 at 1:42pm PST

Chilling with bae(con) ?? #pigbeach #swimmingpigs #exuma #exumaislands #stanielcay #Bahamas

A photo posted by Gaby? (@gabriellecampbell) on Dec 14, 2015 at 8:22pm PST

Today was amazing! I might be posting a few more! #sorrynotsorry #whenpigsswim #pigbeach #stanielcay #stanielcaybahamas #pigsofinstagram

A photo posted by Margaret Janicki (@mjanicki) on Dec 15, 2015 at 3:29pm PST

Bucketlist! ? Zwemmen met biggetjes! #bahamas #pigbeach #travel #bucketlist

A photo posted by G E R. (@gerjannejk) on Dec 22, 2015 at 6:11am PST

Missing these guys today? ??@theswimmingpigs

A photo posted by Carly Moore | Travel Blogger (@touringandexploring) on Jan 11, 2016 at 5:13am PST

Cannot believe my life right now. ☀️?? #FriendsNotFood #ChooseVegan #PigIsland #PigBeach #Caribbean #Bahamas

A photo posted by Michelle Taylor Cehn (@michellecehn) on Jan 13, 2016 at 10:50am PST

Dreaming of our vacation! #55DAYS #pigbeach #Bahamas #margaritas #tan #sunnybeaches #bestfriends

A photo posted by Jamie Whitmer (@jamiiiewhitmer) on Jan 17, 2016 at 4:19pm PST

Mood ?… #tuesdayvibes #vacationinspo #pigbeach #bahamas #beach #wanderlust #needavaycay #turquoisewater #beachlife

A photo posted by HOUSE OF MAX (@houseofmax) on Jan 19, 2016 at 5:29pm PST

Mama pig teaching her babies to swim! #242swimmingpigs #bahamas #swimmingpigs #bigmajorscay #ilivewhereyouvacation #242beaches #exuma #pigbeach #pigisland

A photo posted by Aliane Dionne Forbes (@alianedionne) on Jan 24, 2016 at 6:43am PST

Holiday goals..I need to go and see these swimming pigs #bahamas #pigbeach #lovinglife #holidaygoals #nopigshithere ?☀

A photo posted by Fiona Brown (@fifitricksebelle) on Jan 26, 2016 at 5:13am PST

#lazysunday in #Exuma #theswimmingpigs are all tuckered out from their visitors from #thebachelor ? @amandamthorpe —————————— #itsbetterinthebahamas

A photo posted by The Bahamas (@itsbetterinthebahamas) on Feb 7, 2016 at 7:47am PST

Will you accept this ?/?? My fav beachbums @theswimmingpigs will be on The Bachelor show tonight at 8pm ET ???????

A photo posted by Alina Semjonov, Toronto ?? (@alinasemjonov) on Feb 8, 2016 at 2:34pm PST

Un giorno ci andrò sisi #pigbeach

A photo posted by Francesca Morando (@francesca23_03) on Feb 14, 2016 at 6:32am PST

I want to swim with the pigs ?? #pigbeach #bahamas #lifegoals

A photo posted by @katcolour on Feb 16, 2016 at 3:58am PST

This guy is pretty cute !!!!! ??? #pigs #pigdate #pigbeach #bahamas #Exumas #vacay

A photo posted by David Katz (@skypirate_) on Feb 22, 2016 at 8:39pm PST

Ah these pigs are just so cool! We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day either. ☀️ ? ✌️ #gopro #gophotography #exumas #Bahamas #Pigbeach #exploremore #knektusa

A photo posted by Dylan Jones (@dylan.h.jones) on Feb 26, 2016 at 4:16pm PST

And this little piggy went to the beach to chill @exumawatersports @theswimmingpigs #itsbetterinthebahamas #theswimmingpigs

A photo posted by The Bahamas (@itsbetterinthebahamas) on Mar 3, 2016 at 7:41am PST

De jolige diertjes houden ervan om te zwemmen met mensen, en het eiland is dan ook uitgegroeid tot een populaire trekpleister voor toeristen. En we geven toe: wij willen er ook meteen naar toe!

Info www.bahamas.com