Skull found in Springbrook National Park may belong to a child and may have been deliberately placed

A human skull found in a popular national park in Queensland may belong to a child and appears to have been deliberately placed.

A member of the public is believed to have stumbled upon the remains about 11.35am on Friday, while heading towards Best of All Lookout in Springbrook National Park on the Gold Coast.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Skull found in Springbrook National Park to undergo forensic testing.

A crime scene was declared at Repeater Station Rd after the skull was discovered.

“The bone was located approximately 10m off the main walking track to the lookout,” Senior Sergeant Mitch Gray said.

No other remains were located in the search on Saturday, and the skull has been sent away for forensic testing.

The skull is small and may belong to a child or a person of light build, Queensland Police said.

“Initial suggestions are that the skull has been placed there,” Chief Superintendent Craig Hanlon said.

Further examinations, including DNA and carbon dating, could take months, he said.

There is 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.

Springbrook National Park is a popular tourist destination known for its lush rainforest and scenic hiking trails.

Police are probing how the skull came to be in the park, with investigators exploring possibilities ranging from it being a lost museum artefact to a prank.

“There’s a lot of questions we need answers for, and that’s why our investigation is ongoing,” Hanlon said.