VIDEO: Danger near PIGS in Staniel Cay, Exumas
Our thanks to Skipper Norman Quinn for sending this video and this warning: DO NOT FEED THE PIGS!
Our friends Vern and Rose on M/V Roamalot reported a serious accident at Pig Beach on Big Major Cay in the Exumas. While feeding the pigs, one of the largest pigs attacked and bit Rose pulling her right out of their dingy and nearly severing her thumb from her hand. She flew back to a Fort Lauderdale hospital where she underwent emergency hand surgery to repair three breaks and severed tendons in her thumb. Just a word of warning to cruisers in the Staniel Cay area…do not feed the pigs, especially in shallow water where they can jump into the boat and attack.
Staniel Cay where the pigs swim and here’s a candid shot of a fellow who went ashore without food for the pigs and the chase is on.
Comments from Cruisers (3)
Obviously, the pig “attacked” Rose for food. I don’t believe I mis-stated or inaccurately reported what occurred. We too, have visited the pigs at Big Major Spot on many occasions, and have seen other unwary cruisers injured while innocently feeding the pigs. I don’t have to remind you, or maybe I do, that emergency medical assistance in the Bahamas is extremely limited. A small child may not have fared as well as Rose during such an incident. The pigs are cute but can be aggressive, causing serious life threatening injuries to the inexperienced cruiser. My point was to warn readers to keep their distance and to make sure to stay in water deep enough that the pigs cannot touch bottom, if one decides to feed them. I have personally witnessed them climb into dingys in shallow water and “attack” the occupants in their search for food…doing what pigs do.
We all hope that Rose from M/V Roamalot is recovering from her injuries sustained by a pig bit at Big Majors. As cruisers, we never like to hear about anyone injured. But the article, as submitted, mis-states the issue. We have been to Big Majors on numerous occasions, and we have fed the pigs, and we have seen hundreds of people feed the pigs. It is just not accurate to characterize what happened as saying that the pig “attacked” someone. The pigs at Big Majors don’t attack people, they just eat. Have you ever fed a dog a piece of food, and your hand or fingers get nipped in the process? The dog didn’t bite or attack you – your fingers or hand just happened to be in the way of their getting at what they want, that is, the food. Sure, we’ve seen people get into situations at Pig Beach — and it’s when they are holding a bag of food near themselves, usually while they are standing in the water, and the pig wants to get at the food. To call it an “attack” is just wrong. Even Rose, early in the video, recognized that she might be bitten. We hope she recovers fully.
Greg Allard
M/V Meander
Duh. These are wild, feral pigs. Anyone who has ever hunted wild pigs knows that they can be vicious!