Colony of rare seals found in Greece

ATHENS, Greece, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Scientists say they've discovered a colony of rare Mediterranean monk seals, the world's most endangered seals, at a secret location on the coast of Greece.

The seals are also one of the world's most endangered sea mammals, with fewer than 600 individuals thought to exist, the BBC reported Sunday.

Researchers say they are keeping the location of the seal colony secret so human visitors won't disturb them.

It is the only location in the region where the monk seals lie on open beaches rather than hiding in coastal caves.

Being on the beach was the seal's "original behavior," one scientist says.

"It is human disturbance that has caused the species to retreat to inaccessible caves," says Alexandros Karamanlidis, scientific coordinator of the Mom/Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal.

"So this place is incredibly important -- the seals feel so secure that they go out on to open beaches."

Human activity has also affected the number of seal pups that survive into adulthood, he says.

"Because of human disturbance, [the seals] give birth in these coastal caves, [meaning that] more pups die during storms," Karamanlidis says.

The society has asked the Greek government to make the area where the seals live a marine protected area.