SAN ANDREAS—

For Iringa, Thika and Toka, it’s no game show.

Apparently the price was right for these three elephants, because famed game show host Bob Barker funded their trip from a Canada zoo to the Performing Animal Welfare Society – or PAWS – in San Andreas.

“We have taken animals from the circus – which is our arch enemy, as many of you know. But we’ve never had a situation like this,” said Ed Stewart, PAWS co-founder and president.

He’s talking about a total lack of cooperation between the zoo the elephants came from and PAWS. But when Barker got word of trouble, he decided to take action.

“I had a lump in my throat, I had tears in my eyes. I’ve discovered that the older I get, the easier I cry … The ones that were crying the most were those miserable zoo keepers in Toronto,” Barker said.

I’ll tell you who’s not crying now: Iringa, Thika and Toka. More than 2,000 acres of open space to roam – probably safe to assume a big upgrade from fishbowl life of a zoo enclosure.

“I had a job that I loved … I was very well paid for it, and now I’m spending my money. I intend to die broke,” Barker said.

And if the phrase “having the memory of an elephant” holds true-

“There is no perfect situation for elephants in captivity,” Barker said.

That won’t matter, though, because the golden years for these new arrivals will be as golden as the man who brought them here.

See the full interview with Bob Barker below-