EDMONTON - Animal rights advocate and retired game-show host Bob Barker has entered the debate over a shuttered private zoo in central Alberta.

Barker, 87, who for years led the long-running show "The Price is Right," said Thursday he wants to see all the animals at GuZoo protected by the province -- not just the exotic ones.

"All of us who are trying to protect these animals applaud the government of Alberta for taking this first step to revoke the zoo's licence, but what we're concerned about is that all of the animals won't be protected," Barker said in an interview.

Last week, the Alberta government said it would no longer issue GuZoo a permit because an independent review found deficiencies in all categories of its operations.

However, GuZoo owner Lynn Gustafson has suggested he might reopen as an unlicensed facility that featured only domestic animals.

Dave Ealey of Sustainable Resource Development has said Gustafson has that right.

"The way the permits are defined are for wildlife or exotic animals," said Ealey. "If somebody wants to have animals where he invites people in to pet them or whatever, that's certainly his prerogative as an owner."

Barker said that's not good enough.

"This man shouldn't even have a dog or cat there," said Barker, who said the province's Wildlife Act won't cover camels, birds, reptiles, sheep, pigs, goats or gerbils at what he called "a miserable facility."

"Zoocheck's reports indicate they have not provided fresh water daily or even weekly in some cases. Animal cages have not been cleaned regularly -- they've contained days or even weeks of feces."

Barker admitted he has never personally visited GuZoo, but said he has tremendous faith in Zoocheck Canada, a national animal protection lobby group based in Toronto.

"I've had a vivid description of the mess there at GuZoo from Zoocheck," he said, adding he puts his money where his mouth is when it comes to supporting the group. "I trust the report of Zoocheck Canada implicitly. If they tell you an animal is suffering, you can believe the animal is suffering.

"I try to protect animals in Thailand, in Bolivia, and I haven't seen them either. I protect animals all over the world. But I'm willing to believe the reports I've received."

Barker was unimpressed that many residents in the community of Three Hills, Alta., have rallied in support of Gustafson.

"People who like the zoo as a family attraction must be a very tiny, miniscule percentage of the people in Alberta. I don't see how anyone, a child particularly, could enjoy going and seeing an animal suffering."

Barker has gained a high profile in Canada for his efforts to have elephants at zoos in Edmonton and Toronto moved to U.S. sanctuaries.

Barker argued that Toronto is too cold a climate for the three elephants at that city's zoo, and would be happier at sanctuaries in California or Tennessee. The zoo took steps last month to shut down its elephant programs, although it's not known yet where the animals will end up.

Barker has faced a tougher opponent in the City of Edmonton, which has resisted his calls to relocate Lucy, the lone elephant at that city's zoo.

Barker and other animal rights groups say elephants are highly social animals and being alone at the zoo is a hardship for Lucy; the city says Lucy's health problems mean she would never survive being relocated.

Barker even offered $100,000 of his own money for a second medical opinion on Lucy's breathing problems, but the city turned him down, saying it has faith in its own experts.

GuZoo has been the focus of animal abuse concerns for more than 20 years.

The most recent outcry came in March when pictures that included one of a goat with its face covered in blood were posted on a Facebook page.

Several complaints were made to the Alberta SPCA and the province.

But the province, along with several animal groups, have said they will work with Gustafson to make sure the animals don't get destroyed or sent to taxidermists.

The Calgary Zoo has indicated it may be able to take some of them.