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Seven swimming pigs in the Bahamas have died after reports tourists were feeding the animals rum and beer.

The government in the Bahamas has now banned tourists from feeding the famous breed of swimming pigs, which are found in Exuma, after seven of the animals died.

The unique animals are one of the top attractions for tourists visiting Big Major Cay, nicknamed “Pig Beach” in Exuma.

But according to local newspaper the Nassau Guardian, the government’s minister of agriculture and marine resources said there now needs to be a boundary around the pigs.

Wayde Nixon, one of the owners of the animals, told the newspaper: “The pigs were given the wrong food.

“We had the government vet in there who examined them all thoroughly. The other remaining pigs are alive and healthy and out on the beach and going.”

He added: “We had them pigs there almost 30 years, and never has this happened before, but now we are going to have to regulate it.

“Right now it’s blowing out of proportion 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.”

The agriculture minister, Alfred Gray, said he is working with the ministry of tourism on the matter.

He said visitors will still be able to take photographs and see the pigs swim but not be able to feed them.