' Thierry Le Portier has been training big cats for the past 20 years . Three of his cats were used as models for the Oscar - nominated film ` ` Life of Pi '' Le Portier says training is ` ` an art '' that takes time and an understanding of the animals . He says the only animals that interest him are those that have been ' ` ` exotic pets ''
Frenchman Thierry Le Portier has been training big cats for the past 49 years . Three of his tigers were used as references for the Oscar-nominated film `` Life of Pi '' Le Portier says training is `` an art '' that takes time and an understanding of the animals . He says the only animals that scare him are those that have been made `` exotic pets ''