Street artist Banksy adds to his London "Ark" series a wolf

Banksy has struck again in London, unveiling his latest piece as part of a series depicting animals on architectural elements. Discovered in the Peckham area of South London, the anonymous street artist stenciled a howling wolf onto a white satellite dish. However, part of the installation was apparently taken - photographs show the dish itself had already been removed, allegedly stolen, soon after the work appeared overnight. 

This fourth addition to Banksy's temporary "ark" exhibits on London's streets and buildings follows others featuring animals painted onto outdoor structures, delighting locals until they too are removed or disappear.

Banksy's latest animal-themed series appears to have kicked off earlier this week. On Monday, a stenciled goat was discovered balancing precariously atop a buttress wall near Kew Bridge in Richmond, London. Rocks spilled from beneath its hooved feet as it gazed down at the street, fully aware it was being watched - a security camera was positioned directly in its line of sight. Tuesday brought two intertwined elephants reaching trunks across what seemed to be boarded-up windows in Chelsea. Three monkeys were spotted swinging playfully on Brick Lane. Each work portrays animals in improbable or amusing positions on outdoor architectural surfaces, delighting those who happen upon them - though like all Banksy pieces, their days in the public eye are surely numbered until someone inevitably removes them. 

Through these temporary urban interventions, the elusive artist continues captivating London and puzzling over his identity.

As with his previous works, Banksy has taken to Instagram to authenticate this latest arc of animal installations across London. However, he has not provided any context for the surge in output or meaning behind the subjects. Naturally, observers have begun hypothesizing. A notable theme across three of the four Instagram pictures is people unaware of the stenciled creatures near them, leading some followers to comment on social media that this juxtaposition signifies humanity's obliviousness to the natural world living intermingled with urban environments. As always, Banksy leaves just enough clues to spark discussion but retains the anonymity that continues fueling fascination with his unexpected, temporary interventions and the messages they may or may not contain.

Some have interpreted the works more pessimistically, commenting on Instagram that animals will take over humanity, as Banksy depicts them appearing in urban areas. Others see a storyline emerging in the series, from a single one who’s isolated to more of them who watch out for each other. 

Theories from users include the works symbolizing support for the Palestinian cause, with one commenting that the shape of the goat mural resembles what's left of Palestine. Others relate the animal themes to needing to reconnect with nature or the importance of family and community.