Bob Barker, Whale Pal
Matthew Kruk
Arts, Briefly
Bob Barker, Whale Pal
Compiled by DAVE ITZKOFF
Though Bob Barker, below, is known for his affability and gentleness
toward people with no conception of what things cost, a ship named for
Mr. Barker, the former "Price Is Right" host, had its first
confrontation with whalers on Tuesday, The Associated Press reported.
The Bob Barker, a 1,200-ton vessel operated by the Sea Shepherd
Conservation Society, the group featured on the Animal Planet series
"Whale Wars," was among the ships that tried to stop a Japanese whaling
mission in waters near Antarctica. Mr. Barker, 86, donated the money for
his namesake ship after meeting the Sea Shepherd founder Paul Watson
through a fellow animal advocate. "He said he thought he could put the
Japanese whaling fleet out of business if he had $5 million," Mr. Barker
told The A.P. "I said, 'I think you do have the skills to do that, and I
have $5 million, so let's get it on.' "
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