London Zoo recently removed a Banksy mural from its premises for “safekeeping” after it attracted a large number of visitors. The mural was the ninth and final piece in a series of animal-themed artworks by the elusive artist that appeared across London over nine consecutive days.
The artwork depicted a gorilla lifting part of a roll-down shutter, allowing birds and a sea lion to escape. The zoo decided to take down the mural to preserve it and to restore normal operations at the zoo entrance, which had been swarmed by visitors for five days.
To replace the original piece, the zoo installed a reproduction of the mural alongside a sign reading, “Banksy woz ere.” London Zoo’s chief operating officer, Kathryn England, expressed excitement about the joy the artwork had brought to many and gratitude to Banksy for highlighting wildlife.
She emphasized that this moment had become a significant part of the zoo’s history, which they were eager to preserve. While the mural was on display, it was protected by a transparent plastic shield and guarded by security officers. However, the zoo has not yet disclosed its future plans for the artwork.
The mural sparked various interpretations and discussions among the public. Some viewed it as an anti-zoo message, while others considered it a tribute to London Zoo.
The zoo acknowledged that the artwork had provoked thought-provoking conversations, with speculations ranging from commentary on guerrilla art to reflections on the role of zoos in society.
Banksy expert Jasper Tordoff from MyArtBroker suggested that the final mural in the series could represent the idea that the animals seen in Banksy’s previous works across London had originated from the zoo.
Banksy’s recent animal-themed series has featured various animals, including a goat, elephants, monkeys, a wolf, pelicans, a cat, piranhas, and a rhino. The zoo mural is at least the fifth in the series to be either stolen, defaced, or moved to a secure location for protection.
This trend underscores the challenges of preserving street art, especially when it gains widespread attention and becomes a target for theft or vandalism.
Other artworks in the series have also faced similar fates. A howling wolf painted on a satellite dish was stolen by masked men shortly after Banksy confirmed it as his work. An old billboard featuring a stretching big cat was removed by men claiming to be contractors, despite onlookers jeering them.
A rhino painted on a brick wall next to a broken-down car was defaced with graffiti, and the car was taken away. Additionally, the City of London removed the piranha artwork from a police box, with plans to eventually display it for public viewing.
