LONDON: Banksy has dropped his final animal-themed mural at London Zoo, finishing off his latest series with a bang. The new piece, right on the zoo’s entrance shutter, shows a strong gorilla playing zookeeper and helping a sea lion and some birds escape while other animals watch from inside.
This is the ninth Banksy mural in just nine days, following a series featuring a goat, elephants, monkeys, a wolf, pelicans, a cat, piranhas, and a rhino. The zoo’s team thinks the artwork is fantastic and plans to protect it with perspex so it doesn’t get damaged by the weather.
Authorities from the zoo said they were thrilled to have Banksy’s work on display and that they had no clue he was planning this. The mural might stay where it is for now, but there’s a chance it could be moved around the zoo later.
This mural wraps up Banksy’s surprise art spree across London, which has been keeping everyone guessing for over a week.
Here’s a rundown of what else he’s been up to in London over the last nine days:
#1. First piece appears in west London. – August 5
#2. Two elephants with their trunks stretched toward each other appear on building near Chelsea. – August 6
#3. Three monkeys are painted on a bridge in Brick Lane. – August 7
#4. A wolf howls in Peckham. – August 8 (This one was stolen soon after)
#5. Pelicans pinch fish from Bonners Fish Bar in Walthamstow. – August 9
#6. A cat stretching in Cricklewood. – August 10
#7. Fish swim on a police box in the City of London. – August 11
#8. The rhino mounting a car in Charlton. – August 12
#9. A gorilla helping seal and birds to escape. – August 13