The Indian Army tweeted something very unusual on Monday, claiming it had chanced upon the footprints of a ‘Yeti’ in the Himalayas. 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 April 9. “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. pic.twitter.com/AMD4MYIgV7
— ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) April 29, 2019
One of the pictures put out by the Army showed a large footprint in the snow. Another one should a series of similar large footprints.
The findings of the Indian Army left many Twitter users puzzled and amused. 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. The tweet also became the butt of many jokes. Many questioned the single footprint and asked if it was a ‘one-legged Yeti.’
Is this some prank?
— Chowkidar Smita Barooah (@smitabarooah) April 29, 2019
Can you please search more? If any signs of Rambha & Urvashi as well? My every fantasy dream believe they exist too
— Sarcasm™ (@SarcasticRofl) April 30, 2019
But why only single prints? One-legged Yeti?
— Tina Sharma Tiwari (@TinaSharmaT) April 29, 2019
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, dont 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.
Congratulations, we are always proud of you. salutes to the #IndianArmy Moutaineering Expedition Team. But please, you are Indian, dont call Yeti as beast. Show respect for them. If you say he is a 'snowman'.
— Chowkidar Tarun Vijay (@Tarunvijay) April 29, 2019
Sir please refer to it as snowperson. It is possible that this could be the wife of the snowman, so we should not just assume the gender.
— Siddharth Singh (@siddharth3) April 29, 2019
Many users drew parallels with a popular cartoon character and a similar encounter that the protagonist, Tintin, has with a Yeti in one of the comics. Some even asked if it could be a character from the series Game of Thrones.
I always knew Tintin was right. He was the first to spot the mysterious beast Yeti. Time to re-read Tintin In Tibet pic.twitter.com/mEBdxhqTVx
— bhavatosh singh (@bhavatoshsingh) April 30, 2019
Wun Wun? pic.twitter.com/qYbFJyxQwr
— Chowkidar Ankur Singh (@iAnkurSingh) April 29, 2019
Some said that it was not a Yeti but Guru Ashwathama, the son of Dronacharya from the epic Mahabharatha, who roams the Himalayas.
The mythology says it has links to Guru Ashwathama-the legend of Mahabharata who was blessed with immortality and wanders in the Himalayas.
— Santosh Chowdhury (@sannit1) April 30, 2019
Many others, however, tried to put forth facts and scientific reasoning for the footprints being present there.
With all due respect to everyone, what we call Yeti is with all probability either the Himalayan Brown Bear or Tibetean 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.
— Kunal (@RunMUFC) April 30, 2019
Can there possibly be a simpler explanation? pic.twitter.com/fqIuV0Q9Ri
— Siddharth Singh (@siddharth3) April 29, 2019