Banksy’s Final Mural Shows Animals Freed at London Zoo

LONDON (Reuters) – Street artist Banksy on Tuesday unveiled the ninth mural of his animal-themed art trail across London. This latest piece features a gorilla freeing a sea lion and birds on the shutters of the capital’s zoo.

The series kicked off with a mountain goat on Monday and was quickly followed by eight additional artworks. Among them are three monkeys dangling from a railway bridge, the silhouette of a wolf on a satellite dish, and two pelicans painted above a fish and chip shop.

The zoo mural portrays a gorilla prising open a metal shutter to let birds and a sea lion escape. Banksy has shared images of all these murals on his Instagram account.

According to the BBC, which cited Banksy’s team, the gorilla mural may be the concluding piece of this series. However, the artist’s team did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for confirmation.

Staff members at London Zoo were delighted to find this new mural at their entrance. Many passers-by have also flocked to admire the artwork and snap pictures, said zoo media manager Rebecca Blanchard.

“This is bringing so many smiles to people’s faces this morning,” Blanchard remarked while standing in front of the mural. She added that the zoo has yet to decide what to do about the artwork but assured it would be “definitely kept and preserved.”

Blanchard suggested the mural might be the “grand finale” of what she described as an “incredible series celebrating animals.”

Theories are buzzing on social media about the meaning behind these works. Banksy, known for highlighting social issues such as war and climate change, has prompted plenty of speculation. Some believe the murals are linked to recent riots and racist attacks. Others see them as a commentary on humanity’s potential downfall.

Source: Reuters