A zoological society is a group or organization, often a voluntary association, interested in fields of study related to the animal kingdom. These fields generally include zoology, animal physiology, pathology, veterinary medicine, wildlife conservation, conservation biology, and related topics. Zoological societies are often associated with the operation and/or management of zoos, public aquariums, veterinary hospitals, research institutions, and conservation projects, and with the publication of scientific journals and periodicals. The first such society was the Zoological Society of London, founded in 1826.