Stenciled on a shutter at the entrance London At the zoo, the mural depicts a powerful gorilla lifting a metal barrier, creating a dark hole large enough for other animals to use to escape.
Now, the ninth and final artwork in Banksy’s animal-themed London series has survived on its own, removed by the 196-year-old zoo in an effort to “properly preserve” an “important moment” in its history.
The zoo previously warned visitors on social media that it was planning to remove the artwork from public display on Friday evening “to protect it and to allow full use of our entrance during the busy summer period”, informing people: “We are still working on what we are going to do with it.”
It has installed a replica in place of the artwork and put up a sign nearby that reads “Banksy voz aire” to deter crowds of fans of the unknown artist who have been flocking to the entrance in large numbers since the artwork was unveiled on Tuesday.
The entrance shutters have since been closed so visitors can admire Banksy’s work, which depicts an attentive gorilla helping a sea lion, several birds and bats and three other mystery animals – represented only by their three glowing eyes – to escape into Camden.
In a blog posted Thursday, Katherine England, the zoo’s chief operating officer, said, Publicly thanked Banksy In creating his artwork on the zoo’s shutters, he described it as “an important moment in our history which we are keen to preserve appropriately”.
He added: “We’re thrilled that the artwork has already brought joy to so many people, but firstly, we’re extremely grateful to Banksy for putting wildlife in the spotlight.”
By Friday evening, zoo officials had used a Perspex cover to “protect it from sun glare”.
Two other artworks in the series, which is on display in London from 5 August, have been defaced, including Elephant figures at Edith Grove in Chelsea.
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The Metropolitan Police were called to reports of a theft when a fourth piece depicting a howling wolf on a satellite dish was stolen. It was taken down a few hours after it was posted,
The sixth part, which shows a cat on a billboard, was demolished Three men said they were employed to remove it for security reasons. The billboard’s owner later said the work would be reassembled in an art gallery.
Last week, a spokesperson for Banksy said, told the Observer The artist hoped the uplifting nature of the work would delight people with a “moment of unexpected amusement, whilst also gently underlining the human capacity for creative play rather than destruction and negativity”.