How does Pi's upbringing in a zoo help him in his journey ?How does it hinder him ?

Pi's upbringing prepares him to carefor the animals, and also educates him on animal behavior. Thus, Pi is not completely ignorant when his journey begins. I do not see any way in which his previous knowledge was a hindrance, except that his knowledge was limited to caged animals, rather than animals moving freely in the same proximity. Pi also had relationships with the animals from their time at the zoo.