The latest and final piece in Banksy’s surprise animal art trail across London has been unveiled at London Zoo. The artwork, which shows a gorilla lifting a shutter to release a sea lion and birds, has been confirmed as Banksy’s ninth creation in as many days.
The series of animal-themed artworks began on August 5th with images of a goat, elephants, monkeys, a wolf, pelicans, a cat, piranhas, and a rhinoceros appearing in various locations across the capital. The London Zoo spokesperson described the latest piece as “absolutely brilliant” and confirmed that the work would be preserved.
Security guards have been brought in to secure a barrier around the mural, as crowds gather to photograph the artwork. London Zoo’s animal operations manager expressed his excitement at sharing Banksy’s iconic status with one of the most iconic zoos in the world.
The pledge to protect the latest image follows the removal or defacing of several other works in the series. Banksy’s depiction of a rhinoceros mounting a Nissan Micra with a traffic cone on its bonnet in Charlton was defaced shortly after its unveiling. The council is now considering the future of the artwork and monitoring its condition closely.
The latest work is said to be the final piece in the series, which has captured the attention of Banksy followers for over a week. The artist has been installing the works overnight, with crowds gathering each morning to view the new creations. Banksy confirmed his involvement in the series on his Instagram page on Tuesday morning.
