Life's a beach for Babe the pig who lives on his own private island in the Bahamas



Not many people would be envious of a pig’s life.

Penned into a dirty pigsty, just waiting to be turned into bacon is no one’s idea of fun.

But Babe the pig has got it just right - for him it’s more of a charmed life.

Chilling out: Babe the pig is the ultimate beach bum, spending his days sunbathing and taking cooling dips in the Caribbean Sea

Babe lives on his own private island in the Bahamas and even the most dedicated beach bum would be envious of his hedonistic lifestyle.

The 12-year-old tamed boar spends his days strolling on the beach and taking a swim in the waves - although he has to be careful not to get in the way of predatory sharks which also cruise the island.

Babe shares the island with just two other inhabitants, videographer Luke Abbott and his partner Mona Wiethuchter.



It is a remote island, measuring three and a half miles long and half a mile wide, 40 miles from the busier capital island of Nassau.

Babe came from a small group of wild boars which have inhabited the island since the 1930s when a breeding pair were brought to the island by travellers.

A walk on the wild boar side: babe takes a stroll with his neighbours, Luke Abbott and Mona Wiethuchter - the only other inhabitants on the island

When he was a day old, Mr Abbott, 27, started hand-feeding the piglet. Since then, Babe has been tame and although he lives in the island’s dense vegetation with a handful of other boar, each morning he leaves them and trots out of the bush alone ready for his daily ritual of laidback beach life.

Pork scratchings: After a cooling swim, Babe enjoys being rubbed down with a special broom

Mr Abbott, who has lived on the island for nine years, said: ‘ We were curious to see if we could tame this boar when he was just a day old. Ever since he was hand-fed, he has been remarkably tame.’

The couple discovered Babe liked to drink beer when he pierced a can with his tusk.

His favourite snacks are hot dogs, apples and pasta - but he’s a bit fussy when it comes to eating leftovers.

Miss Wiethuchter, 32, who is originally from Germany, said: ‘He does like vegetable scraps, but he won’t touch lettuce - he doesn’t like that at all. And when we give him a slice of watermelon, he will leave the rind as he doesn’t like that either.

‘We have to keep an eye on his weight with the beer and hot dogs. About two years ago he was carrying too much weight so we had to start jogging up and down the beach with him so he would lose weight, and now he looks a lot trimmer.

‘He loves his daily routine - and he sticks to it rigidly. He comes down to the beach in the morning and starts off with a hot dog, then its off to the sea where he has a good long swim. He likes that as it really cools him down.

‘Then he comes out of the water and has a beer. We only allow him one a day as if he has any more, he can get a bit feisty.

‘Then he goes and has a snooze on the beach and we usually give his coat a bit of a brush then too, which he loves.’

Thirsty work: As if he isn't pampered enough, Babe received a daily treat - one can of the local beer

Island paradise: Mona began taking Babe for regular strolls along the beach after the boar started piling on the pounds

When night falls, Babe gets off the beach and trots back into the bush to settle down for the night - but then he’s back again in the morning.

He has to be careful when he swims in the island’s crystal clear waters as there are dozens of dangerous Caribbean reef sharks patrolling the waters.

Miss Wietchuchter added: ‘He is careful and just keeps to the shallow waters. If he sees a shark he gets out the water very quickly.’

The couple welcome visitors from a Nassau-based company, Powerboat Adventure, which bring visitors to the deserted island to enjoy the stunning little piece of paradise.

Rash decision: Although he loves the water, Babe has to be careful to avoid predatory sharks that sometimes patrol the waters around his home

And of course they are astounded when they come across Babe, who weighs 250Ibs, strolling down the sand and stopping for his morning beer.

Mr Abbott said: ‘He doesn’t mind visitors coming onto the island, but he can be a bit grumpy if they try and stroke him. He likes nothing better than his afternoon snooze on the beach - and he doesn’t want anyone in his way.

'He’s a pig who loves his beach life.’

