Radical artist Linder Sterling with her 53ft mosaic ‘Sirona’ at London Zoo [ZSL]

A GIANT marble snake mosaic designed by a renowned British artist was unveiled at London Zoo yesterday (Thursday).

Radical artist Linder Sterling, known as Linder, created the 53ft (16m) mosaic as part of the zoo’s 200-year anniversary celebrations.

The coiled Ethiopian mountain adder honours zoologist Joan Beauchamp Procter, a pioneer of herpetologists of her generation.

The zoo’s head of conservation, Cat Hickey, said: “Joan Procter was a visionary scientist whose work at ZSL not only transformed global understanding of reptiles but also turned the public dial from fear to fascination.

“She became London Zoo’s first female Curator of Reptiles aged just 26, inspiring a generation with a newfound respect for misunderstood species before dying tragically young and disappearing into relative obscurity.

“As we celebrate our 200th year, it is fitting to honour her legacy of curiosity and care with a major new artwork that reflects our scientific heritage and uncovers a story that has long deserved a bigger spotlight. We hope it will inspire visitors of all ages for years to come.”

Zoologist Joan Beauchamp Procter [ZSL]

Constructed from approximately a million pieces of reclaimed marble off cuts, surrounded by black galaxy granite, the mosaic is titled “Sirona”.

Born in 1897, Joan Procter became internationally famous by transforming reptile care at London Zoo and beyond. She designed the zoo’s former Reptile House and devised novel veterinary equipment to treat the reptiles in her care, the zoo said.

Her life was marked by persistent ill health from childhood onwards – which perhaps deepened rather than diminished her extraordinary devotion to reptiles.

Featuring Joan’s words “think of this sometimes”, taken directly from a letter to her sister, the artwork aims to inspire visitors to consider wildlife, conservation and the hidden people who shaped our understanding of the natural world. The zoo said that sections of the snake “evoke the display tables of the Victorian era, traditionally used to present marble and geological specimens”.

Ms Hickey added: “Joan’s ‘Think of this sometimes’, resonates deeply with everyone at ZSL and is a message to us all – if we all think of wildlife, of the planet, more often, then together we can achieve great things for all that live on it.”

The latest milestone in ZSL’s 200th anniversary year celebrations, for the unveiling, Linder was joined by women working across veterinary science, conservation, reptile care and education at ZSL, celebrating ms Procter’s enduring legacy and the generations she continues to inspire.