The main character in "Life of Pi" is set adrift with which animal?

Was the tiger real or a metaphor...?

CoachBlank, at the end, the grown man has a interview with a reporter. He tells the story as it’s shown with the tiger. But then he offers a different smaller story, a great deal more brutal and heartbreaking. He gives the interviewer the option to believe the 1st story, with the tiger, the hyena, the monkey with bananas and his young self.. or the 2nd story, harder to handle, but more rational. But the 2nd story,… it is more rational and possible. I would rather believe the story with the tiger.. but do I believe the story with the story was a metaphor? Absolutely no doubt.

I seem to recall a zebra on the boat too. Good book but a real tear jerker Re: the zebra!