Atokos - Greece's Pig Island

The swimming pigs of Greece have become an internet sensation with dozens of videos posted on TikTok and other social media.

Bathers on the little island of Atokos in the Ionian Sea, next to Ithaca, are for the experience of a lifetime as they swim next to feral pigs who seem to enjoy the human presence.

Their natural buoyancy and paddling instincts help them move around in the water. It is a mystery how the pigs ended up on the uninhabited 4.5 square kilometers island that belongs administratively to Ithaca. It is also part of the Natura 2000 network because of its rich and rare marine life.

The island is privately owned by the shipping magnate Panayiotis Tsakos. It is uninhabited except for a few goats that roam freely around the island. These animals appear to be tended by a shepherd who visits and tends to the flock every fourth day as part of an agreement with the current owner.

Swimming pigs are the ultimate attraction on Atokos, Greece

In recent years, a herd of black pigs has appeared on the beach of the island and it has become the ultimate attraction.

Imagine gliding through clear water. Beside you, a pig paddles along, its pink body surprisingly streamlined. Their curly tails might bob above the water with each powerful kick of their trotters.

You might hear the contented snorts and snuffles of the pig enjoying the cool water. If there are other pigs around, there could be playful squeals or the rhythmic chomping of their snouts rooting around the seabed.

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