Toka, one of three elephants currently living at the Toronto Zoo may be sent to a Tennessee "retirement" sanctuary".

Frank Landry--Edmonton Sun

Mayor Stephen Mandel thinks it's time for retired game show host Bob Barker to get a job to occupy his time.

Barker was in Toronto Friday, attempting to spur that city's zoo to send its three elephants to a sanctuary south of the border.

He used the opportunity to lash out at Edmonton and Mandel in particular for hanging on to the Valley Zoo's lone elephant, Lucy.

"He needs a job, maybe that's it, he needs a job," Mandel said after hearing about the comments.
Barker, an animal rights activist perhaps best know for once hosting the Price is Right, complimented Toronto Zoo officials for their openness to the idea of moving their elephants before turning his sights on Edmonton.

"Edmonton? That's a completely different story," said Barker, who visited Edmontons zoo in 2009. "I have never been so unfortunate as to have to deal with people like the government of Edmonton.

"I don't know whether (the mayor of Edmonton) is a complete dictator or what, but it would seem to me that someone in the council would have the courage to say this is terrible what we are doing to the elephant."

Lucy's chief veterinarian has said the elephant suffers from a unique respiratory ailment that prevents her from travelling, and moving her would be detrimental to her health. Mandel said the city is following that advice.

"He's a passionate citizen, but when it comes to our zoo and the animals that are there, we listen to the veterinarians who have told us time and time again, 'if you move Lucy, she's going to die,'" Mandel said of Barker.

"If all you care about is the philosophy, that's his choice. My choice is about worrying about the actual animal herself. Lucy is a valued asset to the city of Edmonton. We're not going to kill her because he thinks we should."

Speaking about his $100,000 offer to Edmonton in exchange for having Lucy examined by a team of experts, Barker lamented the mayor last month called it a bribe and wouldn't take his call.

"What we need, and I'm sure there is some here in Canada, we need some good investigative reporters to get in there and find out what's going on in Edmonton," Barker said. "What do they have to hide?"
Coun. Kim Krushell said she found Barker's comments "offensive."

"First of all, our mayor is not a dictator. He only has one vote, and you have 13 councillors sitting there," she said.
Krushell said Lucy is very well cared for.

Coun. Dave Loken said it's a "no-brainer" to him to leave Lucy where she is.

"I'm not sure why Mr. Barker has picked Edmonton to bang his drum so loud," said Loken.

"It's sort of dumbfounding as to why he continues to perpetuate that Lucy is going to be in danger by staying here."

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As the Toronto Zoo was given the right of first refusal to the Bobster's offer of $100,000 two weeks ago to bring in "his" experts to access their elephant situation, and now Edmonton Mayor Mandel has turned it down also, I want to ask a favor of all circusnospin readers. I need each and everyone of you to contact or write a letter to the Bobster requesting that the offer of $100,000 be given for my mother so that she can get the hell out of North Dakota and go someplace warm to live. I need everybody's help on this as well as your friends and associates, before he decides to offer it to another zoo for their elephants. Thank you and it is greatly appreciated.