Banksy’s London Zoo Mural Hints at the Mystery Behind City’s Wild Animal Sightings

LONDON, UK — A mural by infamous street artist Banksy has taken center stage at the London Zoo, surprising visitors and staff alike. The artwork features a gorilla appearing to hold up the entrance gate while birds soar above and a sea lion waddles away, creating a scene that suggests animal liberation.

On Tuesday morning, Dan Simmonds, the zoo’s animal operations manager, stumbled upon the mural while arriving for his shift. “Part of the enigma of Banksy is obviously that everything is a surprise,” he remarked, noting that he never anticipated the artist would choose their venue for such a display. The zoo has been buzzing with guests hoping to catch a glimpse of this unexpected contribution.

Since the start of this artistic spree nine days ago, Banksy’s creations have dotted various locations across London, including a mountain goat and a whimsical fish tank disguised as a police sentry box. Each mural posted on the artist’s Instagram account carries a London Zoo hashtag, increasing anticipation and excitement among fans and tourists.

By mid-morning, cyclists and passersby had gathered outside the zoo, eager to pose with Banksy’s latest work. The zoo’s roller shutter remained closed for much of the day, allowing this new addition to receive deserved attention during their peak visitation period.

Banksy’s journey began with graffiti in Bristol, England, but he has since evolved into a globally recognized figure in contemporary art. His work commands millions at auction, often attracting controversy. Due to the immense interest surrounding his current series, zoo staff have protected the mural with a transparent cover, anticipating potential vandalism or theft, as witnessed with previous installations.

Among prior creations, a rhinoceros was defaced with graffiti, and a howling wolf silhouette was stolen mere hours after it appeared. Additionally, a lifelike big cat painted across a dilapidated billboard was removed by three individuals citing safety concerns.

While it remains unclear if the zoo mural will conclude this series, Simmonds expresses gratitude and excitement that Banksy selected their venue. He also identified the gorilla in the mural as likely being a western lowland gorilla, the same subspecies cared for at the zoo. As for the other characters, he speculated about potential representations, leaving the final interpretation open to speculation.

“That’s the beauty of it. Literally only Banksy will know,” Simmonds concluded, emphasizing the mystery that surrounds the artist’s work.