Bob Barker’s Animal Rights Activism Honored With New Boat Dedication From Anti-Poaching Nonprofit
Bob Barker’s decades of animal rights activism are being honored by the marine life-protection nonprofit Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, which has named a new anti-poaching boat after the late “The Price Is Right” host.
An ocean-based conservation organization that prepares ships in defense of marine wildlife, Sea Shepherd puts captains and crews between poachers and the endangered marine wildlife they pursue for illegal profit.
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The new ship, named the “M/V Bob Barker,” reflects a bequest left by Barker, who was an animal rights leader and supported many causes throughout his life. Barker first supported Sea Shepherd in 2009, as the first “Bob Barker” led multiple campaigns to stop poachers and bring illegal fishing operations to justice. However, the ship was discarded in 2022.
The new “M/V Bob Barker” is re-fitted with advanced sonar, radar, and data collection capacities. Sea Shepherd plans to lead campaigns that support marine wildlife in the Western Hemisphere.
“For decades, Bob Barker inspired millions of people to protect the natural world, and the new 130-foot ship Bob Barker is proud to extend his leadership on animal rights issues far into the future,” Sea Shepherd CEO Pritam Singh said. “It’s important to remember how far we have come in the animal rights movement, and much of that progress comes directly from Bob Barker. He knew he had a unique platform, and he used it to build people’s awareness about their own obligations to animals and their well-being.”
“Bob felt that Sea Shepherd’s brave response to animal rights offenders was especially valuable and courageous and he wanted to be a part of their efforts,” Barker’s brother Kent Valandra said.
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