Photos of "footprints" of the Yéti posted by the Indian army triggered Tuesday hilarity and skepticism on social networks. "For the first time, a high mountain expedition of the Indian army has located the mysterious footprints of the mythical beast 'Yeti', tweeted, apparently the most serious of the world, the armed forces of the giant of South Asia , posting three snapshots in the snow.
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"The elusive Snowman had only been seen before in the Makalu-Barun National Park," says the Indian tweet, referring to the famous footprints found by British explorer Eric Shipton in 1951 on a glacier on Mount Everest . According to ancient Nepalese and Tibetan legends, the "Yeti" is a monkey creature, giant and fierce, which haunts the slopes of the Himalayas. Its existence has never been scientifically proven. According to researchers, this is actually a brown bear from the Himalayas.
Ironic or critical reactions on social networks
The tweet of the Indian army did not convince the skeptics, and many people on social networks urged the army to be "responsible and cautious", recalling that the existence of Abominable Snowman "has never been demonstrated. "Seriously disappointed to see the Army spread such inept myths as if they were real, I expected better from you," commented one on Twitter.
Other Internet users preferred to use irony. "Congratulations, we are always proud of you, and we salute the Indian high mountain expedition," said Tarun Vijay, a leader of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
According to the army, the footprints measure 81 by 38 centimeters, and were spotted by a military team on 9 April near the Makalu base camp, an isolated area on the Nepal-China border. An Indian army official told AFP, on condition of anonymity, that the photos had been published in order to "raise a little scientific questioning".