The Indian army claims to have found “yeti” footprints in the Himalayas. However, internet trolls quickly latched onto the tweet about the footprints and began mocking the army. Multiple studies seem to have disproven the existence of the mythical creature time and time again over the years.
Yeti footprints at Makalu Base Camp?
Multiple news outlets have picked up the story. The tweet stated that soldiers with the Indian Army Mountaineering Expedition Team found “mysterious footprints of mythical beat ‘Yeti’ at the Makalu Base Camp,” which is in the Himalayas.
For the first time, an #IndianArmy Moutaineering Expedition Team has sited Mysterious Footprints of mythical beast ‘Yeti’ measuring 32×15 inches close to Makalu Base Camp on 09 April 2019. This elusive snowman has only been sighted at Makalu-Barun National Park in the past. pic.twitter.com/AMD4MYIgV7
— ADG PI – INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) April 29, 2019
The alleged yeti footprints were spotted on Apr. 9, but the Times of India reports that the Indian army only just decided to make their discovery public this week after learning that what they found was in line with previous reports about the yeti myth. The place where the sighting was reported is in the Himalayas along the China-Nepal border.
Many people expressed disbelief at the army’s findings, but officials said they have handed over photos and “evidence” of the creature “to subject matter experts.” Other Twitter users rebuked the Indian army for spreading stories which science has debunked in the past.
Just a myth?
Stories about the supposedly ape-like yeti date back to South Asian history and folklore. Although no one has uncovered scientific evidence of the creature’s existence, the myth has spread around the world. The creature is sometimes referred to as the abominable snowman in other parts of the world. Reports of supposed sightings are especially common in India, Bhutan and Nepal, according to the BBC.
However, a British scientist suggested in a 2013 study that the yeti commonly reported in the Himalayas may actually be a sub-species of brown bear. A 2017 study examined DNA sequencing of 24 “yeti” samples, which also suggested a link between the bear and the mythical creature. Multiple other scientific studies have also pointed to links between the bear and the yeti, according to CNN.
The Indian army’s report about yeti footprints in the Himalayas is certainly a surprise, given that the Twitter account is usually used for more mundane topics. We don’t expect this story to be going away any time soon.
