It was a bear: Nepal Army negates Indian Army's Yeti claim

According to the reports, a Nepal Army officer said the footprints were likely that of a wild bear, known to frequent the region where an Indian Army team came across the giant-sized footprints.

In a late-night tweet on Monday, the Indian Army had posted a series of photos of large footprints sighted near the Makalu Base Camp in Nepal. The Army said the footprints were sighted by its mountaineering team.

"For the first time, an #IndianArmy Moutaineering Expedition Team has sited Mysterious Footprints of mythical beast 'Yeti' measuring 32x15 inches...," the Army tweeted, leaving Twitter in shock, awe and astonishment.

Next morning, the Indian Army reiterated its claims. Sources in the Army said the tweet was based on "physical proofs of on the spot narration, photos and videos".

"The evidences have been photographed and handed over to subject matter experts," the sources said, adding that the tweet was meant to "excite scientific temper and rekindle interest".

The Nepal Army, however, has rejected the claims.

Nepal Army spokesperson, Brigadier General Bigyan Dev Pandey, told that a Nepal Army liaison team was with the Indian Army team when the footprints were sighted.

Brigadier Pandey said locals and porters claimed that the footprints belonged to a wild bear.

"A team of Indian Army had noticed the footprints and our liaison team was together with them... We tried to ascertain the fact, but locals and porters claimed that it is the footprints of wild bear that frequently appear in that area," Brigadier General Pandey told.

Yeti is a mythical, ape-like creature that is also known as the Big Foot and Abominable Snowman. Yeti's existence has long been debated but never proven.

Image: Indian Army Twitter page