Scientists have found a colony of rare Mediterranean monk seals at an undisclosed location in Greece. The species is the world's most endangered seal and one of the most endangered marine mammals. Researchers are keeping the location of the colony secret to avoid having the seals disturbed by human visitors. It is the only place in the region where seals lie on open beaches, rather than hide in coastal caves. Scientific co-ordinator of the Mom and Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk seal said that this was the seals' original behaviour. It is human disturbance that has caused the species to retreat to inaccessible caves.