A zoo is a facility where animals are kept within enclosures for public exhibition and often bred for conservation purposes. The term "zoo" is short for "zoological park" or "zoological garden"

. Zoos aim to entertain and educate the public, with a strong emphasis on scientific research and species conservation. They have evolved from private collections by the wealthy to modern institutions with a focus on providing animals more space and recreating natural habitats. Zoos are regulated and inspected by the government and are often associated with zoological societies for the study of animals