Yeti Footprints in Himalayas: The footprints of the Yeti were shared by the Indian Army.
Highlights
- Army said it found footprints of Yeti in Nepal's Makalu Base
- In the images, the footprints appear to be of a single foot
- For decades, many claimed to have seen Yeti but were able to show proof
In a post that reminded many of "Tintin in Tibet" and had the popular character trending, the Army tweeted on Monday that its team had sighted "mysterious footprints of the mythical beast Yeti", commonly known as the "abominable snowman" that many over the decades claim to have seen, but without much proof. The army, sharing images on its official Twitter handle, said a mountaineering expedition team had found the Yeti's "mysterious footprints measuring 32X15 inches". The tweet was meant to "excite scientific temper," said sources as the Yeti claim generated curiosity.
The army said it discovered the footprints on April 9 at Makalu Base Camp in Nepal. It also claimed that the "elusive snowman" has also only been sighted nearby at Makalu-Barun National Park.
In the images, the prints appear to be of a single foot.
Army sources say the story is based on "physical proof of on-the-spot narration", photos and videos. "We got the inputs about 10 days back and yet we held on to it," they said, promising that the "photos and videos may surprise you".
The photographic evidence matches earlier theories, the army claims.
"We tweeted as we thought prudent to excite scientific temper and rekindle the interest. Some of us who reject the story surely shall have a definite answer to the evidences. As they say nature, history and science never write their final story," said a source.
There have been many stories about the mystery of the "The Abominable Snowman", mostly based on unconfirmed, often fantastical accounts of its giant size and terrifying howl.
The yeti also features in traditional Nepalese folklore, in which it is described as furry and ape-like. A very popular Tintin episode, "Tintin in Tibet", borrowed that version.
Many have in the past claimed to debunk such sightings, saying what was seen was in fact, a bear. One such report published in 2017 claimed that the creature sighted could have been three different kinds of bears: the Asian black bear, the Tibetan brown bear and the Himalayan brown bear.
"Our findings strongly suggest that the biological underpinnings of the Yeti legend can be found in local bears," said lead scientist Charlotte Lindqvist, associate professor at the University of Buffalo College of Arts and Sciences.
The study also collected genetic evidence from bone, tooth, skin, hair and fecal samples, which were linked to the Yeti. Artefacts gathered from private collections and museums across the world include a monastic relic said to come from a Yeti paw.
In reality, the relic turned out to be the remains of 23 distinct bears.