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Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
National
Claire Galloway

Is this the fascinating meaning behind 'Scottish Banksy's' new Leith street art?

A street artist, who's been described as Scotland's answer to Banksy, has left their mark on the streets of Leith.

The lockdown mural, which can be found on the side of a Leith Walk building, features seven animals alongside the words: "Keep the humans locked up."

It also says "long live the lockdown" and "bats rule", with "The Rebel Bear" in the corner pointing to the artist behind the piece.

This isn't the first time that the artist, who recently left coronavirus tributes to frontline workers in Glasgow, has visited the capital city.

Previously, The Rebel Bear got people's attention when they depicted the iconic King Neptune, the Roman God of the sea, at Granton's pier.

On closer inspection, plastic bags and bottles could be seen hanging from Neptune's trident, as well as plastic bottles floating in the waves.

At the time, The Rebel Bear - who wears a pink bear costume to avoid identification - was selling off limited edition prints of the Neptune piece to donate profits to the SEA LIFE trust.

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So, it is likely that his latest mural once again looks to highlight environmental issues - or, in this case, the lack of since humans have been in lockdown.

Across the world nature has been reclaiming urban areas, whether it be shoals of tiny fish and crabs returning to Venice's waterways or a herd of angry-looking goats taking over the streets of Welsh town.

Edinburgh locals have also been sharing rare up-close encounters with wildlife on empty streets - like this bold deer filmed leaping over a fence in Drum Brae.

While a worldwide pandemic is not a positive or or sustainable way to restore struggling ecosystems, it seems the artist looked to highlight the plight - what do you think?

Judging The Rebel Bear's Instagram, the artist chooses to use their urban art to focuses on themes of capitalism and politics, in the past depicting high-profile figures like Boris Johnson and Margaret Thatcher. 

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