What is "zoophilia"

"attraction to animals involving release of sexual energy," 1899, in a translation of Krafft-Ebing, from zoo- "animal" + -philia. "[F]ormerly not implying sexual intercourse or bestiality" [OED]. The meaning "sympathy or tender care for living creatures" is in the nativized formation zoophily (1886).

n. 1 Human sexual attraction toward or sexual interaction with animals. 2 (lb en uncommon chiefly pejorative) excessive fondness for animals.

n. sexual attraction to animals [syn: zoophilism]

Zoophilia is a paraphilia involving sexual fixation on animals.

Zoophilia may also refer to:

• Zoophily, in botany, a form of pollination

Zoophilia is a paraphilia involving a sexual fixation on non-human animals. Bestiality is cross-species sexual activity between human and non-human animals. The terms are often used interchangeably, but some researchers make a distinction between the attraction (zoophilia) and the act (bestiality).

Although sex with animals is not outlawed in some countries, in most countries, bestiality is illegal under animal abuse laws or laws dealing with crimes against nature.