London Zoo Removes Final Banksy Artwork

London Zoo has removed Banksy's final artwork from its entrance, depicting a gorilla lifting a barrier to allow other animals to escape, for 'safekeeping' and to facilitate summer operations. The piece has been replaced with a replica and a sign stating 'Banksy woz ere' to manage crowds of fans who flocked to see it since its unveiling. The zoo praised the artwork as a 'significant moment in our history,' thanking Banksy for highlighting wildlife. Although protected by a Perspex cover during its display, the mural was removed after concerns about its preservation, especially following incidents of defacement and theft of other pieces in the series. Speculation about the mural's meaning ranges from an anti-zoo message to a tribute to the institution itself. The zoo has not disclosed future plans for the original artwork.