Location the Americas Major islands 1 Prime Minister Perry Christie Island group Lucayan Archipelago | Total islands 1 Capital city Nassau City Nassau Capital Nassau | |
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Largest settlement Nassau (pop. 248,948; as of 2010) | ||
Pig Beach (also known as Pig Island, Major Cay, and officially Big Major Cay) is an uninhabited island (or cay) located in Exuma, the Bahamas. The island takes its unofficial name from the fact that it is populated by a colony of feral pigs that live on the island and in the surrounding shallows.
Contents
- Map of Pig Beach The Bahamas
- Geography and features
- Anecdotal history
- Demographics and fauna
- Getting there
- References
Map of Pig Beach, The Bahamas
Geography and features
Exuma is a district of the Bahamas, and consists of over 360 islands. Near Big Major Cay is Staniel Cay. There are three freshwater springs on the island.
Anecdotal history
The pigs are said to have been dropped off on Big Major Cay by a group of sailors who wanted to come back and cook them. The sailors, though, never returned; the pigs survived on excess food dumped from passing ships. One other legend has it that the pigs were survivors of a shipwreck and managed to swim to shore, while another claims that the pigs had escaped from a nearby islet. Others suggest that the pigs were part of a business scheme to attract tourists to the Bahamas. The pigs are now fed by locals and tourists and the island is unofficially known as Pig Beach by the locals.
Demographics and fauna
Big Major Cay is an uninhabited island. The island is home to approximately 20 pigs and piglets. A few stray cats and goats can be found on the island too.
Getting there
Staniel Cay is the closest island with an airport and local tour guides readily available to make the short trip. Great Exuma has the closest international airport (Exuma International Airport) with direct flights from Canada and the USA. Nassau is approximately 77 nautical miles away, a 2-hour boat trip or a 35-40 minute flight.