THE BALLOON MAN

Bob Barker funds new home for former circus elephants

By Tim Sandle

from: www.digitaljournal.com

December 19, 2011

Toronto - Bob Barker, the former host of the television show "The Price is Right", is offering to pay for the relocation of three ex-performance elephants from the Toronto Zoo to a California sanctuary.

According to The National Post, three African elephants located at the Toronto Zoo desperately require a home after the Zoo and Toronto City Council officials announced in October that they could no longer care for them. The Zoo has said that the elephants must be re-housed by April 30, 2012.

The three elephants formerly worked in a circus and are called Toka, Thika and Iringa. According to CBC News the elephants will be moved to Galt, Calif., called ARK 2000. However, relocating elephants is expensive and the distance between Toronto and the elephants planned new home is some 2,500 miles.

In response to the plight of the elephants, the former host of the CBS television program "Price is Right", Bob Barker, has offered to fund the transfer of the elephants from Toronto to a sanctuary in California.

Mr. Barker made his proposal on the website of the Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS). Quoted on the PAWS website, Mr. Barker explained his actions: "I do not want the transition of the elephants to be hampered in any way. I want them to have the most efficient and humane transition to their new home.

" Bob Barker also stated that he wanted the elephants moved as soon as possible due to the harshness of the Canadian winter.

As CTV News quoted Mr Barker, he does not think that Canada is a suitable country for elephants. Bob Barker (born Robert William Barker) in 1923 hosted the "Price is Right" between 1972 and 2007, which made it one of the longest running game shows. Barker also hosted the game show "Truth or Consequences".

Aside from being a television personality, Barker has publicly been very pro-animal rights and is a vegetarian. In 2004 Barker donated $1 million to Columbia Law School to support the study of animal rights. By taking up the cause of the elephants, Barker has carried on with his long history of animal welfare work. Bob Barker's campaign has also captured the imagination and support of the general public.

This has included a website and a petition. Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/316394#ixzz1h710wT5kDec 19, 2011