Read “Life of Pi” by Yann Martel
The winner of the Man Booker prize 2002 hardly needs any more publicity.
However Yann Martel’ s story begins in the fictional Pondicherry zoo, and the narrator offers a very subtle defence of the zoo concept, suggesting a zoo is more like a suburb than a prison.
I understand that Mr Martel often explained his support for good zoos in the aftermath to publicity surrounding Life of Pi, and that he officiated at an opening event at Edinburgh Zoo.
So, in addition to providing an inspirational story, Life of Pi provides thought provoking material for the what could zoos be debate
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Yann Martel held serious reservations about zoos (partly as a result of seeing some poor examples of animal welfare in various zoos around the world) but for his novel he needed to find a way of having a boy in a boat with a tiger – from a vet, a circus, a zoo?? – so he carried out some research into zoos and was pleasantly surprised to discover how much good zoos had changed over the past 20-30 years and developed their involvement in meaningful and measurable species conservation.
For this reason (during his European tour to promote the paperback issue of ‘Life of Pi’, he opened the newly-redeveloped tiger enclosure at Edinburgh Zoo in 2002, and spoke warmly about the potential for zoos to communicate conservation issues with their visitors and to achieve species and habitat conservation. He then took part in a stimulating debate (broadcast by BBC Radio Scotland) about the themes of faith and zoos, facilitated by the writer and broadcaster Muriel Gray.
His enthusiasm for zoos is not unqualified – he has spoken against the proposal to create a zoo in Pondicherry, for example – but he is certainly supportive of zoos which are sincerely committed to welfare excellence and conservation.
And this comment by email from Yann Martel himself:
Dear John,
That’s fine. I’m happy to support good zoos and the important work they do in being embassies representing the Republic of Wild Animals.
One thing, though: the book is called “Life of Pi”, with no “The”. In the short article you get it right, but in the headline you have Read The Life of Pi. It should be Read Life of Pi. Please do change that.
Otherwise, good luck.
Best,
Yann Martel