London Zoo has announced that it has relocated a Banksy piece for “secure keeping”. This artwork was the ninth and final instalment in a series of animal-themed creations by the mysterious artist scattered throughout the city over nine days.
The mural at the zoo portrayed a gorilla supporting part of a roll-down shutter, enabling birds and a sea lion to escape. London Zoo stated that they took down the Banksy artwork on a Friday evening to safeguard it and fully restore the zoo’s entrance after numerous visitors came to admire it over five days the prior week. A reproduction of the piece was put in its place, and a sign read: “Banksy woz ere.”
Kathryn England, the zoo’s chief operating officer, expressed gratitude to Banksy for shining a light on wildlife through this artwork, which has brought joy to many. She remarked that this moment is significant in the zoo’s history, and they are eager to conserve it properly.
The zoo took precautions to shield the mural during its exhibition behind a transparent plastic barrier and under the watch of security personnel. Plans for the artwork’s future have not been disclosed yet.
Various speculations have been made regarding the meaning behind the spray-painted mural, with interpretations ranging from an “anti-zoo message” to a “tribute to London Zoo.” The mural has sparked engaging conversations, with some suggesting it may be a nod to guerrilla art or a commentary on the role of zoos.
Jasper Tordoff, a Banksy expert at MyArtBroker, mused that the final mural may have revealed that all the animal artworks seen across London had originated from the zoo. Banksy’s recent animal-themed pieces have encompassed a goat, elephants, monkeys, a wolf, pelicans, a cat, piranhas, and a rhino.
This zoo artwork marks at least the fifth in the series to have been either stolen, vandalized, or moved to a secure location for protection. One such incident involved a howling wolf painted on a satellite dish being taken by masked individuals shortly after the artist confirmed it as his creation.
Additionally, individuals claiming to be contractors removed an old billboard featuring a stretching big cat while bystanders mocked them. A rhino painted on a brick wall, appearing to mount a broken-down car, was defaced with graffiti, and the car was removed. The City of London removed the piranha artwork on a police box, with plans to display it for public viewing eventually.
