This, people, is why we can't have adorable things.
The Telegraph reports one of the world's more unique attractions is in danger because tourists are getting carried away, something we see too often amid our travels.
In this case, it's the beloved pigs of the Bahamas' Big Major Cay. These animals are so resplendent in the area that the location has grown a new moniker, Pig Beach. As those who have visited the beach know, these friendly pigs wade in the water and meander about the tourists, happy to greet strangers as if they were locals offering a travel tip.
Sadly, some of them have succumbed to the elements and have died. The person who nurtured the pigs in Big Major Cay has a suspect.
The Nassau Guardian spoke with Wayde Nixon, referred to as the pigs' owner, and he explained his theory on why seven of these pigs passed away suddenly.
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Nixon states, "The pigs were given the wrong food."
"We had them pigs there almost 30 years, and never has this happened before, but now we are going to have to regulate it," he continued.
Nixon gets more specific on what may have caused such harm to these animals: "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. That never happened, but lately [it has] because it's so big, and we are never really there all the time."
While many treat these pigs with the respect each deserves, it's clear by Nixon's assertions that many who flock to the area do not.
Nixon explains that in 30 years he has never had to worry about someone there to supervise the animals.
He tells the Nassau Guardian that's about to change: "Now I will have my son and my partner's son and we will regulate it…we will have permission from the government to do it the right way so we won't have this problem anymore."
"If we have boundary lines, the people will be able to take photographs and see the pigs swim, all of that, but they will not be able to feed them things," Nixon explains.
According to the report, 15 pigs remain and will continue to frequent the area. The hope is that those curious humans can learn to be a bit more mindful of the health of these curious and adorable animals.
It's important to see the world and bask in its pleasures, but it's as crucial to treat each corner of this planet with respect and with a mind on conservation.
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