Swimming pigs turn Greek island into tourist draw

Swimming pigs on Atokos, a small private island in Greece's Ionian Sea, have become a tourist draw after images of the animals spread on Instagram and TikTok.

The island lies a short distance from Ithaka. Visitors now travel there to swim near the black pigs, watch them move along the beach and, in some cases, feed them.

Tour operator Renato Bisha said he makes several trips a day from Ithaca. Similar day trips are also organised from Lefkada and Kefalonia.

Bisha said the island had become viral because of the pigs and that many people actively ask to visit Atokos. The island, little known before the videos spread online, now receives thousands of visitors, especially during the summer months.

Visitors described the experience as unusual and worth the trip. The pigs were seen searching the sand for food and taking short swims to cool off.