TV host Bob Barker donates $5mil to help end destruction of habitat & slaughter of wildlife, preserving ecosystems & species

*Above: Video Update Jan. 8, 2011* - Bob Barker Interview on ABC 7

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Bob Barker said, 'I'm delighted to be able to help the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society in its mission to end the destruction of habitat and slaughter of wildlife in the world's oceans,' 'There is lot of talk about preserving our ecosystems and species, but this is one organization that puts these words into action.'

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 protector, 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 advocate 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."

A Different Kind of Showdown for Bob Barker: Though the real-life Bob Barker is better known for his affability and gentleness toward people with no conception of what things cost, a ship named for Mr. Barker, the longtime “Price Is Right” host, had its first confrontation with whalers on Tuesday. The Bob Barker, a 1,200-ton vessel operated by the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, the ocean protection 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.

TV's Price is Right icon Bob Barker is out to save more animals. Forget zoo elephants, now Barker's showering his protective funds over marine life. Whales.Thanks to his $5,000,000 contribution, the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society was able to purchase and refit the former Norwegian whaler in Africa. The boat departed from Mauritius on December 18 to join the Sea Shepherd ships Steve Irwin and Ady Gil in the Southern Ocean, the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society reports.

The objective of the Sea Shepherd fleet is to sink the Japanese whaling fleet economically — to bankrupt the whaling industry by cutting whale kill quotas in half and costing the whaling fleet their annual profits: For the first time ever, Sea Shepherd has three ships on the Japanese fleet and each ship gives the campaign unique abilities. The long range fast ice class Bob Barker will take the lead in harassing the Japanese fleet and will be able to stay on station for three solid months without refueling. The Steve Irwin will be carrying the campaign helicopter and will coordinate all flight activities in addition to blocking loading operations on the Nisshin Maru, the factory ship. The Ady Gil, with twice the speed of the Japanese harpoon vessels, will concentrate on intercepting the fast chaser vessels to block their hunting activities.

Barker also funded the cost of a helicopter that will accompany the society’s ships. The aircraft is named The Nancy Burnet after the president of United Activists for Animal Rights, an organization Barker also supports.

BOB BARKER! Surprise boat becomes the first to discover location of the Japanese whaling fleet.

The anti-whaling organization let loose today that a brand-new third ship, the MV BOB BARKER, has discovered the Japanese whaling fleet. Said one member of the Sea Shepherd’s shore crew, “We have had to keep the secret, Bob Barker, for eons! We had to squirm out of so many situations and questions to keep the secret!! This is pretty big news, the Bob Barker is a Ice Breaker!! Whoo Hoo!! Imagine the surprise from the Whalers!” No kidding.

Now, the Sea Shepherd have one more boat — and a big one at that — to disrupt the whaling; something the Japanese probably did not count on when coming up with strategies to keep interference to a minimum. With the fleet now located, the Barker can keep tabs on their every move while it waits for the rest of the SS boats to arrive. According to the latest update, the Irwin is approx 700 miles away and should rendezvous with the Bob Barker and the Japanese fleet in three days. The Ady Gil is only about 50 miles from the Japanese whaling fleet. (For those playing along at home, the whaling fleet is currently located in the Commonwealth Bay off the Adelie Coast at 143 Degrees 17 Minutes East and 66 Degrees 43 Minutes South.) As an aside, nice choice SS on naming the new boat after Bob Barker. TMZ.com did a bit more digging and found out that Mr. Price is Right donated over $5 million dollars to the anti-whaling org to retrofit this icebreaker. The new (and very secret) ship was the first of the Sea Shepherd fleet to discover the location of the Japanese whaling fleet. Word is, Barker kicked some ass and made the Japanese whalers relocate, thwarting plans for any kills. You don’t mess with Barker. You just don’t.

Bob Barker is the new savior of the whales!

Bob threw down $5 million to the Sea Shepard Conservation Society to have a 1,200-ton anti-whaling ship built. The thing is so massive and fast, it can cut right through ice, which helps when they are chasing after whalers. In honor of his donation, the society named the ship after him! Yesterday, the ship had its first confrontation. The Bob Barker joined two other vessels going after a Japanese whaling expedition near Antarctica. And it was a success! The whalers were shut down! Ain't no stopping Bob Barker and his seamen!

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Photos courtesy of Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, tvcocktail.ivillage.com, Ecorazzi, Swim at Your Own Risk, WENN, Fred Prouser / Reuters, and Duncan Murrell / Steve Bloom Images / Barcroft Media