Comments on: Read “Life of Pi” by Yann Martel http://whatcouldzoosbe.wordpress.com/2007/12/07/read-the-life-of-pi-by-yann-martel/ What is the future for zoos, aquaria, botanic gardens and similar organisations? How can our organisations make a greater contribution to Society and be recognised for doing so? Tue, 31 Mar 2009 10:13:21 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: johnregan http://whatcouldzoosbe.wordpress.com/2007/12/07/read-the-life-of-pi-by-yann-martel/#comment-82 johnregan Sat, 01 Sep 2007 10:15:17 +0000 http://whatcouldzoosbe.wordpress.com/2007/12/07/read-the-life-of-pi-by-yann-martel/#comment-82 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 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

]]> By: Amanda Alabaster http://whatcouldzoosbe.wordpress.com/2007/12/07/read-the-life-of-pi-by-yann-martel/#comment-81 Amanda Alabaster Fri, 31 Aug 2007 17:48:58 +0000 http://whatcouldzoosbe.wordpress.com/2007/12/07/read-the-life-of-pi-by-yann-martel/#comment-81 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. 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.

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