The mural was the ninth and final piece in a series of animal-themed work by the illusive artist to appear across the capital over nine consecutive days.

The artwork at the zoo depicted a gorilla holding up part of a roll-down shutter allowing birds and a sea lion to escape.

London Zoo said it removed the Banksy work on Friday evening to preserve it and to return the zoo's entrance to full operation after visitors flocked to see it over five days last week.

It was replaced with a reproduction of the work and a sign that said: "Banksy woz ere."

Kathryn England, the zoo's chief operating officer, said: "We're thrilled by the joy this artwork has already brought to so many, but primarily, we're incredibly grateful to Banksy, for putting wildlife in the spotlight.

"This has become a significant moment in our history that we're keen to properly preserve."

The zoo protected the mural when it was on display behind a see-through plastic shield and guarded by security officers.

It has not yet announced what it will do with the artwork.

Speculation about the meaning of the spray-painted mural varied from those commenting that it's an "anti-zoo message" to others calling it a "tribute to London Zoo".

The zoo said the mural had sparked thought-provoking conversations, with some suggesting it was a play on guerrilla art or a comment on the role of zoos.

Jasper Tordoff, the Banksy expert at MyArtBroker, said he liked the idea that the final mural in the series may have been the revelation that all those other animals seen around London had come from the zoo.

Bansky's recent animal-themed artwork has included a goat, elephants, monkeys, a wolf, pelicans, a cat, piranhas, and a rhino.

The zoo artwork is at least the fifth in the series to be either stolen, defaced or moved to a secure place for protection.

A howling wolf painted on a satellite dish to look like it was silhouetted against a full moon was taken by masked men hours after the artist confirmed it was his work.

An old billboard that featured a big cat stretching out was removed by men who said they were contractors as onlookers jeered them.

Meanwhile, a rhino painted on a brick wall that appeared to be mounting a broken-down car was tagged with graffiti and the car was taken away.

The City of London removed the piranha artwork on a police box and a spokesperson said it would eventually be placed where it can be viewed by the public.