Tourists are being blamed for killing some of the Caribbean’s famous swimming pigs – by feeding them alcohol.

Images of the pigs paddling in turquoise water have made Big Major Cay – or Pig Beach – famous, and many travel to this part of The Bahamas to swim with them.

This experience was soooo wild haha 🇧🇸 #Exuma pic.twitter.com/zN7ek4OofT — JAKOB OWENS (@JakobOwens) February 16, 2017

However, seven or so of the honey-coloured creatures have reportedly been found dead, and the man who started the colony says tourists are to blame.

Wayde Nixon, who claims to have created the colony 30 years ago, suggests visitors are at fault for feeding the animals. He told The Nassau Guardian that the pigs are now too big an attraction and that tourism is getting out of control.

“Right now it's blowing out of proportion,” he said, “with people, anybody bringing food there, anybody doing what they [want to] do.

“We have people coming there giving the pigs beer, rum, riding on top of them, all kind of stuff. That never happened, but lately [it has] because it's so big, and we are never really there all the time."

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There are only thought to be around 15 pigs left alive now.

Often described as having a similar personality to dogs, pigs can become very friendly when they are used to human contact and can enjoy being patted and having their bellies rubbed.

"It could just be a horrible accident where they ate something poisonous," Kim Aranha, society president of the Bahamas Humane Society, an animal charity, told Tribune 242.

3 little piggies A post shared by @amyschumer on Feb 24, 2017 at 8:15am PST

The society said investigations are underway to find the cause of death.

"It could be malicious, but I don't really see why someone would go out of their way to hurt those lovely animals," Ms Aranha said.

Celebrities such as the actress Amy Schumer and other notable people such as Donald Trump Jr and his family have posed for photographs with the pigs in the past.

Pig Beach at Staniel Cay in the Bahamas. Took the kids away for a fast weekend. Great family time. #pigbeach A post shared by Donald Trump Jr. (@donaldjtrumpjr) on Jul 1, 2016 at 4:07pm PDT

The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism website suggests that the feeding of pigs by tourists is in no way prohibited.

“Visitors to the islands are happily embracing the unique and special experience of swimming with the pigs on the uninhabited island of Big Major Cay,” its website states.

“The family of pigs, dubbed ‘adorable’ by tourists, locals and media alike, have become incredibly popular. They live freely on the sandy beaches, and after basking in the sun for hours, they swim in the surf.

“The pigs, though feral, are exceptionally friendly,” it continues, “running from under the shade of the almond trees to greet visitors that bring them treats. They are also fed by the crews of passing yachts and vessels.”

It also suggests that the pigs enjoying joining in various marine activities, such as snorkelling and scuba diving.