KOTA KINABALU, Malaysia - Datuk Mahedi Andau, widely considered the father of the state's key wildlife conservation programmes, died yesterday.

The 58-year-old former Sabah Wildlife Department director died at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital here of a heart ailment.

He leaves behind a wife and three children.

Department director Laurentius Ambu said Mahedi who headed the department after it was upgraded from a unit of the Forestry Department in 1988, was instrumental in the state's wildlife conservation efforts.

Ambu served as Mahedi's deputy until he took over as director in 2007.

He said among Mahedi's efforts were the rhino conservation programme and the 120,500ha Tabin wildlife conservation area in the east coast Lahad Datu district.

It was also under Mahedi's stewardship that the department established the Sabah Wildlife Park at Lok Kawi, some 15km from here.

The park showcases the state's wildlife including a Sumatran rhino, Borneo pygmy elephants, orang utans and proboscis monkeys.

During his tenure, the department modernised facilities at the internationally renowned orang utan rehabilitation centre at Sepilok, making it a favourite among tourists.

Mahedi served in the state civil service for more than 30 years before his retirement two years ago.

He continued to be involved in wildlife conservation efforts and served as a trustee in the Borneo Conservation Trust, an NGO, establishing wildlife corridors in Sabah's east coast by acquiring private land.