Indian Army spots Yeti's footprints in the Himalayas
30 Apr 2019
The Indian Army claims to have spotted, what it claims to be the footprints of the elusive but abominable snowman, Yeti, in the Himalayas. An Indian Army mountaineering team chanced upon the unusual footprints on Monday.
Sharing four pictures, the official Twitter handle of the Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADGPI) of the Indian Army tweeted that an Indian Army mountaineering expedition team ‘cited the mysterious footprints’ of a Yeti, measuring 32x15 inches near the Makalu Base Camp.
The Indian Army said the footprints were spotted around three weeks ago, on 9 April. “This elusive snowman has only been sighted at Makalu-Barun National Park in the past,” the ADGPI added in the tweet.
“For the first time, an #IndianArmy Moutaineering Expedition Team has sited Mysterious Footprints of mythical beast 'Yeti' measuring 32x15 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,” @adgpi tweeted.
One of the pictures put out by the Army showed a large footprint in the snow. Another one showed a stretch of similar large footprints.
The ‘Yeti,’ also referred to as the Abominable Snowman, is a mythical legend – an ape-like creature taller than an average human, believed to live in the Himalayas, Siberia, Central and East Asia.
While a number of Twitter users mocked the Army handle for believing in a myth, many others thought it was a prank. Many questioned the single footprint and asked if it was a ‘one-legged Yeti.’
BJP MP Tarun Vijay hailed the Indian Army for its finding, saying that the country was proud of its Army, but the MP had one reservation with the Indian Army’s tweet.
“Congratulations, we are always proud of you. salutes to the #IndianArmy Moutaineering Expedition Team. But please, you are Indian, don’t call Yeti as beast. Show respect for them. If you say he is a 'snowman' (sic),” Tarun Vijay said in a reply to the original tweet. His tweet triggered yet another discussion on the Twitter thread – pertaining to the Yeti’s gender.
The mythology says it has links to Guru Ashwathama, the legend of Mahabharata who was blessed with immortality and wanders in the Himalayas.
Some others believe the Yeti, in all probability, to be either the Himalayan Brown Bear or Tibetan Blue Bear. Both are endangered, can grow over 7 feet and are bipedal. The single foot print forms when the bear walks on 4 feet.