Most of the small cays have no beaches because of the way they were formed, by mangrove trees. Then they set out roots and begin the process all over. Over the ages, islands form. Resort developers consider the mangrove forests as nothing more than swamplands, and they've chopped away great swaths of the trees in parts of Belize to create golf courses and hotels for the rich and famous. But without the mangroves, there would be no islands, no manatees, fish or wildlife.
Locals say an occasional crocodile can still be spotted among the mangrove thickets.
It sounded dubious. As proof, they said dogs occasionally disappear in the night. Dogs don't swim for the mainland, so they must provide an occasional midnight snack for crocs. Here can be found abundant wildlife, some species rarely seen elsewhere. It's the national bird of Belize.