Atokos island gains international attention for swimming wild pigs

The small, uninhabited island of Atokos, located near Ithaca in the Ionian Sea, has gained international attention as a unique tourist destination due to a population of wild black pigs. Part of the Natura 2000 network, the island has seen a rapid increase in tourism, particularly from visitors in Italy, who arrive via organized boat excursions to see what is now being called the ‘Island of Pigs.’

A family of black pigs was first identified on the island in 2021. Since then, the population has grown, and the animals have become accustomed to human presence. Tourists frequently observe the pigs swimming in the sea to cool off and foraging along the coastline. The phenomenon has become a viral sensation on social media, transforming the previously obscure island into a significant seasonal attraction.