Corrected entry: In one part of the lifeboat scene, Richard Parker tries to attack Pi but slides down the tarp. Tiger claws are sharp enough to cut through a canvas tarp and even if Richard has no claws, his weight can tear the tarp.
CaptLocke3047
15th Jan 2015
Correction: Tigers (like all members of the cat family except Cheetahs) have retractable claws (which is why their tracks don't show claw marks unlike dogs) which is how he slide down without tearing anything, and there's no reason to think his weight would tear the tarp.
Bishop73