Pigs of Paradise

"The Bahamas are famous for sun, sand--and swimming pigs." --National Geographic In the middle of paradise, with billionaires and celebrities for neighbors, is an island populated only by swimming pigs. For decades, this archipelago of 365 islands would remain largely unknown to the world. It would not be a ruthless pirate, pioneering loyalists, a notorious drug kingpin, or the infamous Fyre Festival that would unveil Exuma to the world, but rather the most unlikely of creatures. Appearing in magazines, videos, newspapers, commercials, TV shows, and countless selfies, the Swimming Pigs of Exuma, in the Bahamas, have become a bucket-list sensation and have been named one of the marvels of the universe. But how did they reach this celebrity status? What made them so famous? Why, in February 2017, did so many of them die? And how did recent events such as the Fyre Festival and Hurricane Dorian affect the many pig colonies spread throughout the Bahamas? Pigs of Paradise is an unlikely story of humble beginnings and a swift rise to stardom. With interviews from historians, world-renowned ecologists, famous pig owners, and boat captains, it thoughtfully considers what this phenomenon says about not only these animals but also about the humans who admire and care for them.