Londoners were treated to a surprise over the weekend as the mysterious street artist Banksy added three new animal-themed murals to his latest series, marking a total of eight in just over a week. The new additions include a school of black fish stenciled onto a City of London police box, a big black cat stretching across a billboard in northeast London, and a rhino mounting a car in the city’s southeast.
The fish, painted on a police box in Ludgate Hill, caught the immediate attention of authorities. Detective Chief Inspector Andy Spooner of the City of London Police described the artwork as “criminal damage” and confirmed that the police are in discussions with the City of London Corporation, which owns the police box. The area was swiftly cordoned off by workers following the mural’s discovery.
Meanwhile, the big cat mural appeared on a billboard on Saturday morning, only to be taken down hours later by a contractor who feared it might be stolen. The contractor, who identified himself as Marc, told PA Media that the billboard was due for demolition on August 12, and he decided to remove the artwork for safekeeping. “We’ll store that bit [the artwork] in our yard to see if anyone collects it, but if not it’ll go in a skip,” he explained.
The rhino mural, found on Monday in southeast London, depicts the animal in an unusual pose, mounted on a car. This latest piece has fueled speculation online, with thousands of Banksy’s Instagram followers offering their interpretations, despite the artist’s support organization, Pest Control Office, dismissing any deeper meaning. A spokesperson for the organization told The Guardian that recent theories about the murals’ significance have been “way too involved.”
The eight-animal series, which also includes a mountain goat, a pair of elephants, three monkeys, two pelicans, and a wolf, has captivated the city, with each new mural quickly becoming a social media sensation. However, the artworks have not gone unnoticed by thieves. The wolf, painted on a satellite dish in Peckham, south London, was stolen last Thursday by a group of hooded individuals in broad daylight.
While the purpose behind Banksy’s latest work remains unclear, his agent hinted to the BBC that more murals could be on the way, though there was “no comment on the theme” of the series. The Observer reported that London residents should “keep their eyes peeled” for future surprises.
As Banksy’s murals continue to emerge across the capital, they have sparked both admiration and controversy, leaving many to wonder what the artist will unveil next.
