Scientists say they’ve discovered a colony of rare Mediterranean Monk Seals, the world’s most endangered seals, at a secret location off the coast of Greece.

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.

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

“So this place is incredibly important — the seals feel so secure that they go out on to open beaches.” “It’s a small island in the Aegean with nice sandy beaches,” said Dr Karamanlidis adding, “So if it remains open to people, the place will get crowded, and the seals will start going away again.”

The Mom/Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal is now appealing to the Greek government to create a marine protected area at the part of the island where the seals live.

“The seals only survive in Greece because we have these isolated islands that people do not have access to,” said Dr Karamanlidis.

“So we’re trying to make this a place where the seals feel secure.” Sources: UPI, Press TV