With fewer than 600 remaining individuals, the Mediterranean Monk Seal is not only the world's most endangered seal, but also one most endangered marine mammals. Fortunately, a glimmer of hope has arisen for the embattled species, whose numbers teeter on the brink of extinction. Scinetists have discovered a colony of the rare creatures at an undisclosed location in the Greek Islands.

It is the only place in the region where seals lie on open beaches, rather than hide in coastal caves. Researchers are keeping the location of the colony secret to avoid having the seals disturbed by human visitors.

Alexandros Karamanlidis, scientific co-ordinator of the Mom/Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk seal, explained that this was the seals' original behaviour.

The Mom researchers, whose society name is derived from the Latin name of the species, Monachus monachus, have been monitoring and studying monk seals for more than 20 years.

This has not been an easy task as most of the animals now live in areas that are not visible from the water line. By driving the seals into secluded caves, scientists say that human activity has also greatly affected the number of seal pups that survive into adulthood.

"Because of human disturbance, the seals give birth in these coastal caves, meaning that more pups die during storms." explained Dr Karamanlidis. The number of seal pups born
annually in the newly discovered colony is amongst the highest recorded anywhere in the Mediterranean Sea.

The region’s popularity with tourists has gradually driven the animals away from other beaches, something scientists hope to stop from happening thing on this island. The team has placed cameras on the island to study the seals remotely. "It's a small island in the Aegean with nice sandy beaches," said Dr Karamanlidis.