The artwork at the zoo depicted a gorilla holding part of a roll that allowed birds and a sea lion to escape.
London Zoo announced that it removed Banksy’s artwork on Friday night to preserve it and to restore the zoo’s entrance to full functionality after visitors flocked to see it for five days last week. It was replaced with a replica and a sign that read, “Banksy woz ere.”
Kathryn England, the zoo’s chief operating officer, stated, “Banksy is one of the most significant figures for the zoo. We are thrilled with the joy this artwork has already brought to so many, but most importantly, we are incredibly grateful to Banksy for putting wildlife in the spotlight. This has become a significant moment in our history that we wish to preserve properly.”
The zoo has not yet announced what it will do with the artwork, according to Sky News.
Speculation about the meaning of the spray-painted mural ranges from those who interpret it as an “anti-zoo message” to others who see it as a “tribute to London Zoo.”
Banksy’s recent animal-themed works have included a goat, elephants, monkeys, a wolf, pelicans, a cat, piranhas, and a rhinoceros.
