Yann Martel

They're a great storytelling vehicle.

And it's funny how now we think of animals as children.

Children's books are populated with animals.

Nowadays, in the late 20th century, 21st century, very few adult books.

But earlier on, Kafka uses animals all the time.

Jack London is full of animals all the time.

You know, we share this, they're fellow citizens of this planet.

They carry their load of stories.

They are just as essential as we are.

So why would we not share our stories with them?

So I'd like using those diplomats from the wild so that we can keep that connection.

And they are, even just riding with them, they're a source of marvel.

I remember when I was exploring the behavior of the tiger.

In earlier drafts of Life of Pi, it wasn't gonna be a tiger, because he's too well known.

It was gonna be a rhinoceros.

And I was really happy about that, because everyone knows the rhinoceros, but most of you would know Zilch.

about different kinds of rhino.

Which ones have three horns?

Which ones are armor-plated?

Where do they live?