Ornamental animal

An ornamental animal is an animal kept for display or curiosity, often in a park. They often offer little practical value (such as meat, companionship or protection), and are instead kept for their appearances. A wide range of mammals, birds and fish have been kept as ornamental animals.

Ornamental animals have often formed the basis of introduced and invasive populations. The keeping and husbandry of ornamental animals has also preserved breeds, types and even species which are rare or extinct elsewhere. The term usually does not mean animals kept in zoos, instead referring to animals in private collections.