A rare dugong found stranded on the shores of the Red Sea at the Wadi El-Gamal protectorate was saved by environmental activists, reported Al-Ahram's Arabic website.

Dr Ahmed Shawky, the expert of natural protectorates at Wadi El-Gamal, told Al-Ahram's Arabic website that the baby dugong was found on the shore near the office of Wadi El-Gamal protectorate early Tuesday. 

Shawky added that the environmental activists returned the rare marine creature to the shallow water near the protectorate office and they kept an eye on its behaviour until it found its way to the open sea.

Dugongs, which are rare sea mammals that live in the Red Sea, are a vulnerable species on the verge of extinction. 

Wadi El-Gamal protectorate is part of the national parks in the Red Sea governorate, south of Cairo.

The 7,450 square kilometre park includes many rare animals and marine species.