SACRAMENTO, California (AP) Three former zoo elephants from Canada have arrived at their new home in a California sanctuary after former "Price is Right" host and animal activist Bob Barker sought and paid for the move.
The 89-year-old Barker was on hand late Sunday to welcome the pachyderms to the Performing Animal Welfare Society's ARK 2000 compound in the hills near San Andreas, The Sacramento Bee (http://bit.ly/1a0Fp26 ) reported.
"It was more than emotional for me, for all of us," Barker said. "I had tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat. It's hard to believe they are finally here."
The African elephants Iringa, Thika and Toka had been living at the Toronto Zoo. The Toronto City Council agreed two years ago to send them to the sanctuary following lobbying efforts by Barker and others who don't think elephants and other large animals belong at most zoos.
Barker paid close to $1 million to fund the road trip for the elephants that traveled to the sanctuary over nearly four days in special trailers.
