Environmentalists in Russia's Far East are becoming increasingly concerned that local wildlife is suffering because of too much human interference. The say that rare Stellar sea lions left the port of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky early this year because they

The rare sea mammals have been guests at the Far Eastern port of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky for decades.

But this spring most of the Stellar sea lions abandoned their favourite pier.

Environmentalists say its human interference that has driven them away.

Despite numerous requests to fence-off the area to the public, nothing was done.

Environmentalists say some people were even throwing stones or other objects at the resting sea lions.

The city government has promised to extend the pier and build a new watch tower in order to attract the animals back.

But specialists fear it may be too late, as once disturbed, the sea lions may never return.