Was it performance art? The result of a dare? Was somebody being “Punk’d”?

Whatever inspired it, the appearance of a man in a gorilla suit at the fountains at Crocker Park the night of July 13 brought amusement to passersby.

Just before 10 p.m., Westlake Police Capt. Guy Turner, who was working security for the shopping development, and Crocker Park security guards observed a subject in a black gorilla suit playing near the water fountain.

“He was lapping up water with his hand,” Turner said.

As Turner and the security guards approached the primate to order him away, the subject fled on foot, lumbering in a gorilla-like stride, causing people in the area to laugh, Turner said.

The subject went to the Union Street parking garage where he apparently quickly discarded the gorilla suit. Police found the suit in the garage shortly afterward.

The gorilla suit, which is now in police custody, appears to be in good shape and possibly brand new, Turner said. No tags were found indicating where it was manufactured or if it was rented from a costume shop, he said.

Turner said he did not plan to arrest the subject, just order him to leave the shopping development, which legally is private property. Even now, if the gorilla suit owner comes forward to claim the costume, the individual won’t face arrest, Turner said. He’ll just face a warning to take his monkey business elsewhere.