Because.... I mean I can hypothesize its the parrot-video thing, or maybe some of the more recent GPT chatter about using GPT and LLMs to inform dolphin speak and the belief we will have ubiquitous talk-to-the-animals "any day now"

You know, the great thing about the FIRST movie of Doctor Dolittle, was Rex Harrison. He just couldn't sing. I mean, anyone who has seen "my fair lady" knows this: so banging him into a musical about animals.. Its pure W.C. Fields "never work with children or animals" times "or in a musical if you can't sing"

The books on the other hand, by Hugh Lofting, are a part of many people's childhood with fond memories. They probably now come with trigger warnings for the artwork which is not very kind to PoC