Zoo Outreach Organisation, named for its acronym ZOO instead of the other way around, was founded in 1985 with funds and a mandate from the then Department of Environment, Government of India, to provide technical and educational support for zoos, enhance the public image of zoos, and liaise between local, national, international interests for the benefit of Indian zoos. ZOO lobbied for organisations and legislation for improving zoo management and animal welfare in zoos. ZOO evolved over the years into a more eclectic organisation working to link difference organisations meaningfully, improving communication, cooperation and collaboration for wildlife conservation. ZOO produces several periodicals, among them ZOOS' PRINT magazine which is the only Asian zoo magazine for a regular monthly periodicity.

Wildlife Information Liaison Development WILD, was also named for its acronym. WILD was founded in 1999 for the purpose of strengthening projects undertaken by ZOO and providing a more systematic and scientific focus. WILD also works with both in situ and ex situ projects but its major focus is field conservation. WILD staff provide much of the energy behind the peer reviewed publication ZOOS' PRINT Journal, which focuses on South Asian conservation science. Both ZOO and WILD highlight neglected taxa and topics. Together ZOO and WILD manage several South Asian taxon networks such as invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, chiroptera, rodentia / insectivora, and primate. These networks are curiously similar to the old Species Survival Commission taxon specialist groups but with a South Asian focus.