This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jan/06/skull-child-or-small-person-found-springbrook-national-park-gold-coast-queensland-ntwnfb

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Skull of child or small person may have been deliberately placed in Gold Coast park, police say Skull of child or small person may have been deliberately placed in Gold Coast park, police say
(32 minutes later)
Bushwalker’s discovery in Springbrook national park leaves Queensland police with ‘a lot of questions we need answers for’Bushwalker’s discovery in Springbrook national park leaves Queensland police with ‘a lot of questions we need answers for’
A skull found in a national park may belong to a child and appears to have been deliberately placed. A skull found in a national park may belong to a child and appears to have been deliberately placed in the rainforest.
Police are investigating after a bushwalker made the gruesome discovery about 10 metres off a track in Springbrook national park on the Gold Coast on Friday morning. Police are investigating after a bushwalker made the gruesome discovery about 10 metres from a track in Springbrook national park on the Gold Coast on Friday morning.
Police said the skull was small and may belong to a child or a person of light build. A crime scene had been declared. Police said the skull was small and may belong to a child or a person of light build. A crime scene has been declared.
“Initial suggestions are that the skull has been placed there,” Chief Supt Craig Hanlon said on Monday. He said further examinations, including DNA and carbon dating, could take months. Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news emai
Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news emai
“Initial suggestions are that the skull has been placed there,” Ch Supt Craig Hanlon said on Monday. Further examinations, including DNA and carbon dating, could take months, he said.
Forensic pathologists and a bone expert with Queensland police were examining the skull.Forensic pathologists and a bone expert with Queensland police were examining the skull.
There was no evidence of a recent death or foul play in the area.There was no evidence of a recent death or foul play in the area.
“The skull looks like it has been in the conditions for a long time ... it wasn’t submerged or buried; it was lying on the ground,” Hanlon said. “The skull looks like it has been in the conditions for a long time … it wasn’t submerged or buried; it was lying on the ground,” Hanlon said.
Springbrook national park is a popular tourist destination known for its lush rainforest and scenic hiking trails.Springbrook national park is a popular tourist destination known for its lush rainforest and scenic hiking trails.
Police were probing how the skull came to be in the park, with investigators exploring possibilities ranging from it being a misplaced museum artefact to a prank. Police were investigating how the skull came to be in the park, with theories ranging from it being a misplaced museum artefact to being part of a prank.
“There’s a lot of questions we need answers for and that’s why our investigation is ongoing,” Hanlon said.“There’s a lot of questions we need answers for and that’s why our investigation is ongoing,” Hanlon said.
No other bones or evidence of criminal activity have been found in the area following a thorough search involving about 100 State Emergency Service volunteers. A thorough search of the area, involving about 100 State Emergency Service volunteers, found no other bones or evidence of criminal activity.