Photo: Courtesy SCMP
One of the greats of animal welfare in Asia died two years ago. Dr John Wedderburn passed away at his retirement home in West Java in November 2024. He was 83. John was a Scottish-born medical doctor who devoted most of his life to improving the lot of animals, especially fighting cruelty. He saw that animals are as sentient as we are; he saw the suffering in their eyes and he fought for them.
We first met when both on Exco of the Hong Kong SPCA. After four years John concluded not much was accomplished sitting on a committee and quit to work independently. I followed and tried to help. John set up the No Kill Forum and Trap Neuter Release, which aimed to stop the killing of unwanted companion animals. “Adopt from a rescue centre; don’t buy from pet shops.”
Although a successful medical practitioner who worked escorting patients on medevac flights, John spent much of his income because of his passion for animal care and rights. He visited hundreds of zoos, lobbying for better conditions for the lions, elephants, monkeys and so on. He moved with his wife Sati to West Java, where he set up the Asian Animal Protection Network, linking 759 Asian animal advocates. It was the beginning of an international movement, still operating today.
John suffered severe bullying when young, according to his nephew, Pete Wedderburn. “He learned to view animals as more reliable, supportive and dependable than most humans. He had a sceptical view of human motivations. He felt animals were more direct and honest.”
Dr Wedderburn said to me one day, “We are animals.” Think about the way we ingest, digest, excrete and procreate. John was right. As usual. I had great respect for John and loved him like a brother.
Jill Robinson, founder of Animals Asia Foundation and rescuer of about 800 moon bears from vile, cruel bile farms, told me: “John was a giant of a man in the field of animal welfare. A champion for all species during his time in Hong Kong and Indonesia.”
Asia Animal Proection Network was “probably the first inspiration for the Asia for Animals conferences and coalition.
“John was kind, brave, humble and relentless — who never took himself seriously and even described himself as an old curmudgeon. I think he always wanted to be a vet rather than a doctor and became a vegan who spoke out loudly against animal injustice and inspired so many to join the movement for eradicating cruelty and making animals matter.
“Generous to a fault John was bear guardian to moon bears Galadriel, Gollum and Frodo and always called our China bear sanctuary ‘food for the soul’. He was our Animals Asia board member from 2008 to 2013 and our friend and had a michievious sense of humour. When we told him we were giving him something to honour his time on our board, he said, ‘Thank you, I hope it is not a puppy.’
“After he passed we created a bench by the River Pi, made out of old farm cages and old bear enclosure furniture at the sanctuary (in his memory).
“Rest in peace, John, from your family, who love you — Jill.”
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