Ship Funded By Bob Barker For $5 Million Fights Whaling In Antarctica

LOS ANGELES — Five million dollars for an anti-whaling ship? Bob Barker says the price is right.

Barker donated that amount to the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, which named its new 1,200-ton anti-whaling ship The Bob Barker.

The ship had its first confrontation with whalers on Tuesday when it joined two other Sea Shepherd vessels aiming to stop a Japanese whaling mission near Antarctica.

"Whaling was shut down today," Sea Shepherd founder Paul Watson said via satellite phone from aboard a nearby ship. "There's no whaling now and hopefully no whaling after this."

The Bob Barker is a high-speed former whaling ship that can cut through ice, Watson said, adding that the vessel "makes it a lot easier for us to shut down these whaling operations."

Sea Shepherd, which Watson describes as an "anti-poaching organization," aims to enforce the United Nations World Charter for Nature by physically intervening in illegal whaling missions.

"They're targeting endangered and protected whales," he said.

Barker, a longtime animal activist, stepped up his efforts even more after retiring from his 35-year gig hosting "The Price Is Right." He met Watson through a fellow animal activist and was instantly impressed.

"He said he thought he could put the Japanese whaling fleet out of business if he had $5 million," Barker recalled. "I said, 'I think you do have the skills to do that, and I have $5 million, so let's get it on,' so that's what we did."

Barker, 86, said he was "genuinely proud" to be associated with Sea Shepherd. And while the TV studio where "The Price Is Right" is filmed is officially called the Bob Barker Studio, the veteran broadcaster said he's never had a ship named after him.

"It was our idea to name it the Bob Barker. He's a little too humble for that," Watson said. "I thought it was the least we could do."

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On the Net:

http://www.seashepherd.org

Comments

[KillerQuebec]

01:50 PM on 02/06/2010

I wonder if I could buy a life jacket named after me? That's about all I can afford.

[TigersEye]

02:24 PM on 01/07/2010

Good for him, there is absolutely no excuse for the slaughter of whales, dolphins and other cetaceans.

[romika3]

06:15 AM on 01/07/2010

The 5 million dollars should have been donated to one of many better conservation groups that operate in a professional manner and do much better work than the Sea Sheppard Society .

[HumanExperience]

11:17 AM on 01/07/2010

You mean the other ones that are completely absent while the whalers are killing whales. Who are they exactly? This one seems to be getting the headlines and making that 5 mill go a long way towards public attention to the cause. They already got their money's worth back in publicity.

[romika3]

05:15 PM on 01/07/2010

Anybody can ram a whaling boat and get headlines. Real conservation work and work to preserve the Earth's biodiversity is done by those agencies who work at a higher level. Google top conservation groups to see a few and then read what then do and how they go about doing it.

[MyDogJack]

08:40 PM on 02/06/2010

There is certainly room for any and all conservation efforts as far as I am concerned. I take my hat off to the people of the Sea Sheperd group who are out on the front lines willing to walk the walk.
Do you think all the concern, money, and polite discourse on behalf of the whales stops an explosive harpoon? The Sea Sheperds have directly stopped hundreds of whales from being killed because they are THERE. And I thank them.

[Monterey]

01:57 AM on 01/07/2010

Bob Barker has used his position to fight for those creatures that most would not know or care what happens to them. He has been generous beyond words in support of the humane treatment of animals. He took what would otherwise be just a lame American tv game show and used it to help the less fortunate creatures on this earth. Some posting here are ignorant and unable to actually see the good that one human being is able to manifest. It is people like Mr. Barker that give humanoids a glimmer of what one can do to be considered decent. If you have never seen a whale breach or been lucky enough to get close enough to touch one you have truly missed the beauty of a creature as intelligent and sensitive as all humans SHOULD be. My highest regards go to Mr. Barker to his unrelenting dedication to this cause.

[amber15]

09:44 PM on 01/06/2010

Go get'em Barker!!!!!

[JoeMentia]

05:18 PM on 01/06/2010

The whales and decent folk around the world thank you, Bob. Ignore the soulless tr0llies

[Chico41]

04:06 PM on 01/06/2010

"He said he thought he could put the Japanese whaling fleet out of business if he had $5 million,"

What a sleazy con artist. "If only I had $5 million, I could save the world. Too bad I don't.....unless someone were to maybe.....I don't know.....donate it???"

Yeah, throwing smoke bombs and damaging a few propellers is sure to end something that's been going on for almost a thousand years.

If hippies really want to save the world, they need to do it in a way that doesn't piss everyone off, including the people who are supposed to be on their side.

[MyVesta]

12:05 PM on 01/07/2010

Never challenge the powers that be. That'll change things.

[MyDogJack]

08:44 PM on 02/06/2010

I suggest you know a little more about the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society before you shoot your mouth off.

Obviously, Mr. Barker did his research before he bought the group a 5 million dollar ship, which ironically was once used as a whaling ship.

[HumanExperience]

02:51 PM on 01/06/2010

Come on downnnnn! to Antarctica. Awesome, Bob.

P.S. I could use a new car.

[arabianway]

01:34 PM on 01/06/2010

Thank you Bob for your tireless work in all areas of animal advocacy!

[shthar]

12:24 PM on 01/06/2010

so the ady gil is now, or was, the bob barker?

[winterkills]

01:44 PM on 01/06/2010

No, they are two separate vessels.

[rf dude]

11:08 AM on 01/06/2010

Can't wait to see the videos of Captin' Paul Fatso twisting back and forth in his seat,

open mouth framed by stubbly grey goatee,

as the speedboat deftly drives into the oncoming bow of the whaler.

Those arctic waters need a good oil slick anyway - THANKS GUYS...

[winterkills]

01:46 PM on 01/06/2010

It appears that reality is optional for you.

[DietPepsi]

10:22 AM on 01/06/2010

Bob looks sort of like a shell of himself. Old age is a terrible thing, what it does to the body.

So Bob wants to save the whales, good for him. I hope he saves some.

[MyVesta]

01:11 PM on 01/06/2010

Shallow and mean-spirited.

Bob Barker has done more good on this planet than you ever will.

You should be so lucky to live to his age.

[amber15]

09:43 PM on 01/06/2010

too much diet pepsi - I see.

[BCALM]

09:47 AM on 01/06/2010

these Sea Shepherd people are heroes ,,,, Whaling is is as cruel as what Cruella Deville wanted to do with the dalmation puppies......and while Barker probably treats animals better than women , he was great beating up Happy Gilmore

[ProperGanda]

09:11 AM on 01/06/2010

Bob Barker fighting whales in Antarctica

[sc300nc]

09:09 AM on 01/06/2010

Japanese whalers 1, Bob Barker 0