A team of South Korean researchers has found 11 types of rare animals, regarded as natural treasures, inside the demilitarized zone.

The team has conducted ecological research in the DMZ separating the two Koreas since November.

They said the rare species they found include cranes, white-naped cranes, eagle owls, golden eagles and kestrels.

The DMZ is a subject of keen interest among the world's ecologists as it has been a haven for endangered species for a half century.

No human has lived in the DMZ since 1953, when an armistice pact halted the three-year Korean War. As a result, the environment of the DMZ has been protected from human interference and boasts some rare species of plants and animals.

The DMZ divides the Korean Peninsula from east to west, stretching for 248 km and covering 907 square kilometers. The border area, comprised mostly of forests and grassy and swampy lands, reportedly houses about 2,716 species of plants and animals.