It was only a matter of time before another Banksy animal mural in London was removed by someone to prevent it from being stolen or defaced.

The gorilla, an escape king, who was painted on a shutter at the entrance to London Zoo last Tuesday, has been taken down by the zoo for “safekeeping”.

It follows the removal of a big cat painted on a blank billboard in north-east London by a developer, who said he did so to prevent the artwork being “ripped down” by thieves. Banksy’s wolf painted on a satellite dish was stolen in broad daylight by a hooded trio, his rhinoceros climbing onto a car was destroyed, as were the pair of elephants he painted on the bricked-up windows.

London Zoo said it had removed the ninth and final artwork in a series of animals to “appropriately preserve” a “significant moment” in its nearly 200-year history, but sent out a warning on social media that it planned to remove the artwork from public display on Friday to “make full use of our entrance during the busy summer period.”

“We are still working on what exactly we will do with it,” the zoo wrote on X.

The gorilla has since been replaced with a replica and a sign reading “Banksy woz ere” stands nearby. Crowds have gathered at the zoo’s entrance to catch a glimpse of the mural.

“We know that animals have the power to inspire and excite people. Being in nature improves people’s mental and physical health and wellbeing,” wrote Kathryn England, chief executive of London Zoo, on the zoo’s website. “We are thrilled by the joy this artwork has already brought to so many people, but most of all, we are incredibly grateful to Banksy for shining a light on wildlife.”

The gorilla helps several animals escape from the zoo, including a sea lion, birds, and several other animals lurking in the darkness with only the whites of their eyes visible.

Banksy said in a statement last week that he hoped the artworks would “cheer people up with a moment of unexpected amusement, while gently highlighting the human capacity for creative play rather than destruction and negativity.”