The Price Is Right For Elephants: Bob Barker To Pay $200K In Relocation From Toronto Zoo To NorCal Sanctuary
Bob Barker may have retired from his "The Price Is Right" days, but the former game show host continues to generously advocate for animal rights.
Barker announced on Sunday that he will reach into his pockets and pay approximately $200,000 for the relocation of three African elephants from the Toronto Zoo to the 2,300-acre Performing Animal Welfare Sanctuary (PAWS) in Northern California. City Council voted in favor of moving the trio of aging elephants - Iringa, 42, Toka, 41, and Thika, 31 - to PAWS in October due to costs and health concerns. The decision was met with opposition by some Toronto Zoo staff, who requested the animals be sent to an accredited zoo.
In a statement on Sunday, Barker said, "I do not want the transition of the elephants to be hampered in any way. I said this would not cost the city a penny and I want to assure them [city councillors] it won’t," reports Toronto Star.
Barker's decision was apparently spontaneous. Julie Woodyer, campaign manager with Canadian animal welfare group Zoocheck, said, "All of a sudden, yesterday, he just said 'You know what, let's just do it this way.'"
The move of each 10,000-pound gentle giant is expected to occur in March or April 2012 via Boeing C-17 aircraft or truck. National Post lists April 30, 2012 as the target transfer date.
Barker previously paid $300,000 to help pay for African elephant Ruby's transfer expenses from the L.A. Zoo to PAWS. He also voiced his support to City Council in removing Billy - a lone elephant - from the L.A. Zoo during a period of controversy in 2008. He donated $1.5 million to assist in Billy's move to PAWS.
Let's take a quick walk through some of Barker's other animal rights missions. In July of this year, he paid for 29 lions to be airlifted from circuses in Bolivia to the U.S., a project spearheaded with L.A.-based Animal Defenders International. Serving as the public face for a Mercy for Animals campaign, Barker spoke out against Costco's veal products in late 2010. Barker also donated $2.5 million to PETA in March 2010 to help the organization establish a new L.A. office.
