A Vietnamese bird expert, and pioneer of the country’s first national park has died aged 87.

Dr Vo Quy died in Hanoi on Tuesday.

A former student of Dr. Quy told the New York Times that the Dr. had diabetes and suffered heart and kidney problems.

In addition to his studies on Vietnam’s birds, Dr. Quy is known for pushing Vietnam’s political leaders to conserve the country’s biodiversity.

He also led a national effort to refoliate parts of Vietnam that had been destroyed by Agent Orange, the defoliant chemical sprayed by the American military during the Vietnam war.

In the early 1960s, Dr Quy persuaded Vietnam’s leaders, including Ho Chi Minh, to designate a piece of land in the capital city as the country’s first national park.

Dr Quy is survived by his wife, and two sons.

– TiVi Tuan-san