In Greece, wild boars have started swimming alongside tourists and become TikTok’s new stars

The Greek islands have long been associated with turquoise seas, picturesque coves and yacht holidays. However, this summer, one small island in the Ionian Sea unexpectedly gained a completely new attraction. Tourists come here not only for the beaches: wild pigs and boars, which calmly approach holidaymakers, wander along the shore and even go into the sea, have become the real stars of social media.

The island in question is uninhabited Atokos, located in the Ionian Sea not far from Ithaca. It covers just around 4.5 square kilometres, but in recent months it has been appearing increasingly often on TikTok and other social networks thanks to unusual videos featuring the animals. The footage shows tourists swimming in crystal-clear water, while black pigs and their piglets suddenly appear beside them. Some of the animals enter the sea and confidently swim after people or boats.

This unusual sight has turned Atokos into something of a Greek version of the famous “Pig Beach” in the Bahamas. The difference, however, is that the animals here are not part of a specially created tourist attraction. They live freely on the island, and their encounters with holidaymakers happen naturally.

Dozens of videos have appeared on social media showing tourists peacefully enjoying a swim before noticing an unusual “neighbour” in the water. In one viral video, two tourists were swimming near Atokos when a boar began rapidly approaching them through the water. The women quickly moved aside and returned to their boat, while the video immediately attracted the attention of TikTok users. The creator of the clip later joked that the animal looks cute — but only while it is at a distance.

Footage showing the animals appearing directly on the beach is especially popular. Tourists photograph them, watch the piglets and record videos as they wander along the water’s edge or cool off in the shallows. One video, filmed in late July 2026, showed an entire family of animals moving freely along the beach among holidaymakers.

How the animals ended up on the uninhabited island

The story of how the pigs came to Atokos remains a mystery. There is no definitive answer to how they ended up on the small uninhabited island.

One widely circulated theory is that sailors may have left the animals there at some point, using them as a food supply during their journeys. Another version suggests that the ancestors of today’s animals may have reached the island after a shipwreck.

It is not known for certain which of these stories is closest to the truth. Today, however, the animals have become an integral part of Atokos’s unusual character and, it seems, have no intention of giving up the beaches to tourists.

Why pigs can swim in the first place

Although seeing a boar or pig in the sea may seem unusual, these animals are naturally capable of staying afloat. They use instinctive leg movements to paddle and can swim short distances.

On Atokos, the animals are regularly spotted near the shore, in shallow water and alongside arriving boats. In some videos, they literally become part of the beach holiday — entering the water at the same time as tourists and swimming just a few metres away from them.

An unexpected travel idea from Cyprus

For tourists from Cyprus, this story could be another reason to take a closer look at Greece’s lesser-known corners. Atokos is not a typical resort island with hotels, restaurants and developed tourist infrastructure. It is more of a small natural stop for yachts and sea excursions in the Ionian Sea.

That is precisely what makes a trip here so unusual: instead of a familiar day at the beach, tourists may find themselves taking part in a real mini-safari. And they may even spot the animals while swimming.

However, travellers should remember that viral videos create an impression that the animals are completely safe and friendly. Although the local pigs are accustomed to the presence of people, they remain wild animals. Experts and local sources recommend not approaching them too closely, not provoking them and not treating the encounter as contact with domestic animals. Particular caution is advised around piglets and adult animals.

Today, Atokos has received unexpected publicity that no tourism company could have bought. It is all thanks to several viral videos: tourists came here for the sea and beautiful coves, but got a completely unexpected safari right in the water.

And judging by the popularity of the videos, for many travellers the main question is no longer “which Greek island is best for swimming?” but rather where exactly they might accidentally encounter a boar swimming in the sea.