Maybe the dinosaur did it.
Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate doesn't know what happened on Clive Palmer's Gold Coast property but he's convinced the ex-billionaire's claim of deer being shot, killed and butchered has nothing to do with the council.
Mr Palmer used a Facebook post on Saturday to claim council officers "armed with high-powered rifles" had slaughtered the deer on his property near the Avica Resort in Merrimac.
The former federal politician said at least 10 red deer had been shot and the meat then sold to local restaurants for $40 a kilogram.
Mr Tate said an investigation of council records showed council had not culled the deer and an inspection of the property showed no signs of any slaughter.
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"That kind of shooting would have left a lot of blood around and we didn't see any of that," he said before suggesting Mr Palmer's infamous animatronic Tyrannosaurus Rex from a different Queensland property was the culprit.
"One starts to wonder what did actually happen ... maybe the dinosaur ate them? You're going to have to ask Clive that.
"Everyone's having a holiday, watching old movies, I think Clive's probably watched The Deer Hunter, woken up and gone 'I've got those deers in the back of my yard and somebody shot them'."
Mr Tate said he didn't know if Mr Palmer's accusation was a misguided attempt at re-launching his political career.
He added that an apology for council officers would be "nice" but not something he or council would be waiting for.
Mr Palmer has reportedly been trying to sell the 76 hectare resort which he bought from a Japanese wedding company for $11.55 million in 2010.
AAP is seeking comment from Mr Palmer.
