Surfing Swamp Pigs: An Unlikely Sport Thrives in the Andaman Islands Amid Looming Threats
By Ben Millar Cole
The swamp shimmered golden in the late afternoon light, cradled by dense mangroves on the far edge of the Andaman Islands. A remote corner of India, this archipelago holds many secrets—its turquoise waters and thick jungles conceal creatures rarely seen and traditions often untold. But I had come here chasing a rumor. A man, they said, had trained pigs to surf.
At first, the tale sounded absurd—more like a beachside myth than a genuine story. But after several days of bumpy drives and rickety boat rides, I arrived at a tiny village on Little Andaman, where I met Rajiv Das, a former surfer-turned-farmer with a unique passion for the island’s semi-wild swamp pigs.
The Surfer and His Swine
Rajiv greeted me on the edge of a mangrove swamp, standing atop a worn-out surfboard. Beside him was his unlikely protégé: a muscular, mud-slick pig with bristly black fur. The pig, whom Rajiv affectionately called Sundari, waddled onto the board with surprising grace. With a gentle nudge, Rajiv pushed the board into the shallow water, and Sundari floated serenely, snout raised toward the humid air.“People think pigs are just livestock,” Rajiv said with a grin, “but they’re clever. They understand balance, rhythm—they even learn to love the waves.”
Rajiv, now in his late 40s, grew up surfing the wild breaks of the Andamans. But after a near-death encounter with a rogue wave over a decade ago, he traded his surfboard for a quieter life. That’s when he noticed the swamp pigs—nimble, semi-feral creatures that foraged the mangroves for roots and crustaceans. Inspired by their agility and intelligence, Rajiv decided to train them, merging his passion for surfing with his respect for these scrappy survivors of the wild.
“They’re like us,” he explained. “They adapt. They thrive in places where others can’t.”
Pigs on the Water
Training a pig to surf, it turns out, is no small feat. Rajiv starts when they’re young, acclimating them to the water and the motion of the board. Sundari, now his star pupil, had been with him for five years. She could ride small waves with ease, balancing her stocky frame on the slick surface as if born for it.Watching Sundari and Rajiv navigate the mangroves together was surreal. The pigs seemed to revel in the water, snorting contentedly as they floated along the shallows. Occasionally, Sundari would leap off the board to chase a crab or dive for a mouthful of mangrove roots, only to clamber back up with Rajiv’s gentle assistance.
“This is their playground,” Rajiv said, sweeping his arm across the swamp. “But it may not be for much longer.”
A Looming Threat
Rajiv’s tranquil existence—and the swamp pigs’ habitat—is under threat. A major hydroelectric project proposed by a large Indian energy corporation plans to flood much of the surrounding area. The dam promises electricity and economic growth for the region but at a devastating cost to the local environment.The mangroves, a vital ecosystem that buffers the islands from storms and supports countless species, would be submerged. Rajiv’s village—and his beloved pigs—could be displaced.
“Once the water rises, it’s all gone,” he said, his voice heavy with frustration. “The pigs, the trees, the fish—everything.”
Local communities, many of whom depend on the mangroves for their livelihoods, are divided. While some see the dam as a lifeline offering jobs and modern conveniences, others, like Rajiv, fear the irreversible destruction of their home.
The Fight to Save the Swamp
Environmental activists have begun to rally against the project, citing the importance of the mangroves as a carbon sink and a biodiversity hotspot. But opposition is difficult in a remote region where resources are scarce, and corporate interests hold significant sway.Rajiv has found himself an unlikely advocate in this struggle. What began as a quirky passion—training pigs to surf—has become a symbol of resistance. His pigs, he argues, represent the resilience of the swamp and its inhabitants.
“If Sundari can learn to ride a wave, surely we can learn to protect her home,” he said.
A Race Against Time
As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the swamp in hues of orange and purple, I watched Sundari paddle alongside Rajiv one last time. It was a strange, beautiful sight—a man and his pig, riding the water in harmony.But beneath the beauty lay a profound urgency. The Andaman Islands, already vulnerable to rising seas and climate change, are at a crossroads. Whether Rajiv’s swamp pigs will continue to surf these waters—or whether this unique slice of life will be swallowed by progress—remains uncertain.
For now, Rajiv continues his work, hoping to inspire others to see the value in the small, wild things that call the swamp home.
“People think I’m crazy,” he said with a laugh as Sundari nuzzled his leg. “Maybe I am. But if we don’t fight for this place, who will?”