Banksy's surprise mural at ZSL London Zoo depicts gorillas liberating animals

An unexpected mural by street artist Banksy was discovered at the entrance to London Zoo ZSL on Tuesday morning. The artwork depicted a gorilla lifting the zoo's front door, allowing birds to fly free and a sea lion walking away, while three pairs of eyes watched from the darkness. This surprise exhibition could shed light on recent appearances of Banksy's animal-themed creations in London over the past nine days.

From a mountain goat perched on the buttress of a building to piranhas surrounding a police guard post and a rhino riding a car, these unusual sightings have turned up in the most unexpected places. Each of these works was posted on Banksy's Instagram page with a London Zoo hashtag, according to Dan Simmonds, the zoo's manager of animal operations. However, Simmonds did not foresee that the artist would choose the zoo entrance as his canvas.

Simmonds discovered the mural at 6:30 a.m. as he arrived to do his morning chores. By then, cyclists frequenting Regent's Park, where the zoo is located, were already taking selfies with the artwork. The shutter remained closed throughout the day to display the mural, attracting Banksy fans and crowds eager to view and photograph the piece.

Banksy, who began his career by spray painting buildings in Bristol, England, has become one of the most recognized artists in the world. His works, which often sell for millions at auction, have also been the target of thieves and vandals. Zoo staff later protected the mural with a clear plastic cover to protect it from possible damage.

Simmonds expressed his excitement and honor that the zoo was chosen as one of Banksy's canvases. He was especially excited to see the gorilla on the mural, as he had previously been the gorilla keeper. He speculated that the primate in the mural might be an endangered western lowland gorilla, a subspecies they keep at the zoo. As for the other creatures, Simmonds guessed that one of the birds might be a macaw and another a bat. However, he admitted that only Banksy would know the true identity of the animals depicted in the mural.