Dear Deborah, I'm so sorry to break the news, but the meerkat bones can not be given to an expert. This story is fiction. The real answer lies in the meaning of the book. Pi Patel never had to be on a lifeboat. His "Story" was just a beautiful illustration over the underlying metaphor. The story is an illustration of faith. Pi continued to have blind faith in religion and his gods even through all the traumatic experiences on his lifeboat. Look at P.148 and P.177 and read them. Both times he thanks his god for giving him this opportunity for some rest and to be part of a bigger project. There might have been a zoo, but it doesn't matter at all.
I'm so sorry to break the news, but the meerkat bones can not be given to an expert. This story is fiction. The real answer lies in the meaning of the book. Pi Patel never had to be on a lifeboat. His "Story" was just a beautiful illustration over the underlying metaphor. The story is an illustration of faith. Pi continued to have blind faith in religion and his gods even through all the traumatic experiences on his lifeboat. Look at P.148 and P.177 and read them. Both times he thanks his god for giving him this opportunity for some rest and to be part of a bigger project. There might have been a zoo, but it doesn't matter at all.
Hope this helps