Is the Yeti Real? Why We Think It May Be a Bear (But Can’t Be Sure)

From Alexander the Great to modern expeditions, the Yeti remains one of the most fascinating Asian cryptids. This strange ape-like creature has left behind bizarre footprints, questionable evidence, and countless myths.

But could the Yeti be just a misidentified animal? Or could there be something more to the legend?

At SpookySight, we did our own investigation. Here’s what we discovered:

What is the Yeti?

First things first. What is the Yeti? Well, according to the “standard definition,” the Yeti (aka the Abominable Snowman) is a cryptid from the Himalayas with roots in Tibetan folklore and local traditions.

Etymology

The term “Yeti” is derived from the Tibetan word “g.ya’ dred” (གཡའ་དྲེད་), where “g.ya'” means “rocky place” and “dred” means “bear.” In a rough translation, “g.ya’ dred” means “the bear from the rocky place.”

What’s interesting here is how Tibetans refer to the creature as likely a “bear.” Not as something unidentified. Not a cryptid. But more about that later.

Linguistic variations across Tibet and Nepal have contributed to the different names and interpretations of the Yeti. For example, the words “ti,” “te,” and “teh” derive from the Tibetan word “dred,” with the ‘r’ sound being softened, turning it into “te” or “teh.”

Other regional names include Migoi (or Mi-go). This one translates to “wildman.” It’s not a “bear” anymore. This time, it is a man-like creature. Other names are Michê (which means “man-bear”) and Dzu-teh (meaning “cattle bear” and likely referring to the Himalayan brown bear).

Beyond Tibetan lore, the Yeti has been named in different cultures and regions. In Nepali, Bun Manchi means “jungle man.”

On the other hand, Mirka (another name the Nepali people gave to the mysterious creature) also means “wildman.” However, this name is somewhat tied to deadly sightings, where seeing one is supposed to bring death.

The term Xueren (Chinese for “Snow Man”) and the Chuchuna of Russian folklore (a Neanderthal-like creature from Siberia) also connect to Yeti-like myths.

The Abominable Snowman

Now, let’s talk about how the Yeti became the Abominable Snowman, because this is where things get interesting (and kinda funny).

By the early 19th century, Western explorers (like B. H. Hodgson) were already spreading rumors of strange creatures spotted in the Himalayas. Though, Hodgson assumed he’d spotted some sort of orangutan in 1832.  

But the real buzz around the Yeti didn’t hit until 1921 during the British Mount Everest expedition led by Charles Howard-Bury. So, what happened?

After discovering large footprints in the snow, Howard-Bury used the local term “metoh-kangmi” (meaning “man-bear snowman”) in his journal to describe the bizarre marks.

And here’s where things get quirky. A journalist named Henry Newman misunderstood the phrase. He thought it meant “filthy snowman.” Newman—perhaps trying to punch it up a bit—translated it as “Abominable Snowman” instead.

Since “Abominable Snowman” has quite a ring to it, the name gained popularity quickly. And it forever transformed the Yeti into a fearsome and menacing monster.

What Does the Yeti Look Like?

As you can probably imagine, Yeti’s descriptions vary… a lot. Which is not that unusual for a cryptid.

However, there are some consistencies across different reports and testimonies: the Yeti is tall (between 6 to 10 feet), can walk on two legs, and is covered from head to toe in thick fur (white, brown, or black). It has long, strong arms, an ape-like face, and a muscular build.

Tibetan folklore classifies the Yeti into three main varieties:

• Nyalmo—It’s the largest at about 15 feet tall. It’s also the fiercest (presumably the most aggressive one). Its body is covered with black fur.
• Chuti—This “species” is much smaller, approximately 8 feet tall. It thrives at altitudes between 8,000 and 10,000 feet.
• Rang Shim Bombo—It’s the smallest of the three (between 3 and 5 feet) and is covered in reddish-brown fur.

Documented Sightings and Expeditions

One of the earliest and most fascinating stories about the Yeti involves none other than Alexander the Great himself. During his campaign to conquer the Indus Valley (around 326 BC), Alexander heard local stories about some weird creatures living high in the Himalayas.

Intrigued, he reportedly requested to see one of these beasts. But, to his disappointment, the locals told him that the Yeti could only survive at high altitudes.

The actual search for the Yeti started many centuries later, in the early 19th century. Hundreds of explorers, researchers, and cryptozoologists scoured for the mysterious creature.

Some have collected evidence (like footprints and hair samples). Others focused more on gathering stories and testimonials from the local populace.

Here is a comprehensive table detailing notable Yeti expeditions throughout history:

Physical Evidence

Over the decades, numerous artifacts have been linked to the Yeti. Everything you can think of, from footprints to supposed mummified remains and hair samples.

But how reliable is this evidence? What happens when you dig deeper into these discoveries? At SpookySight, we did just that. Let’s take a closer look at the results:

Mummified Remains

In 1953, a Tibetan lama named Chemed Rigdzin Dorje Lopu claimed to have come across what could have been one of the most groundbreaking discoveries in the history of Yeti research—not one, but two mummified Yeti remains.

Lopu claimed that these mummies were stored in separate monasteries. One at Riwoche and the other in Sakya.

He also provided some captivating yet bizarre descriptions for the remains: the mummified Yetis had about 8 feet. They were covered in thick, dark brown hair about 1 to 2 inches long, with flat skulls and almost non-existent tails.

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According to Lopu, they looked more like gigantic monkeys than humanoid cryptids.

Now, just imagine the headlines and the rush to examine these remains—if they had made it into Western science labs. It could have been the ultimate “smoking gun” in the search for the Yeti.

Well, that didn’t happen.

In 2010, researcher Peter Pesavento decided to follow up on these claims. He reached out to the monasteries, hoping to track down the Yeti mummies. However, his inquiries hit an unexpected roadblock.

The Riwoche monastery (where one of the mummies was supposed to be) had been destroyed during the Chinese annexation of Tibet in the 1950s. Most treasures (including the alleged Yeti mummy) were either looted or burned.

As for the Sakya monastery? Pesavento’s investigation faced another frustrating dead end. How so? The monks there simply refused to speak with him.

Even today, whether the second mummy was lost, destroyed, or perhaps remains hidden within the monastery’s walls is still a mystery.

The Pangboche Hand

If you’re a Yeti fan, you’ve probably heard of the infamous Pangboche Hand. But if this is all new to you, buckle up. This story is wild. Let me explain.

Back in 1958, during the Tom Slick-F. Kirk Johnson Expedition we mentioned above, the group came across what could’ve been a huge find at a monastery in Pangboche (yes, another Tibetan monastery).

The monks showed them an ancient relic—a hand they believed had once belonged to a Yeti. The issue? The monks weren’t about to let some European outsiders take it for testing.

And this is where things get shady.

Peter Byrne—one of the expedition members—took matters into his own hands (literally). In an infamous move, Byrne secretly swapped out some of the hand’s bones with human bones, wiring them into place.

He then smuggled the stolen bones out of the country with the help of actor James Stewart and his wife, Gloria Stewart, who—get this—hid the bones in her suitcase during their trip back to England.

Once back in England, they handed the bones over for examination. One of the scientists who got access to the remains was the primatologist William Charles Osman Hill.

At first, Hill thought the bones were from a human. But later, he speculated that they might have belonged to a Neanderthal. Still, the analysis turned out inconclusive. Largely due to the limited technology available at that time.

Shockingly, the bones were somehow lost after this analysis. How do you lose something that significant? We still don’t have the answer to that one.

However, in 2011, a finger from the hand was rediscovered in Osman Hill’s collection, labeled “Yeti Finger.” The finger was tested again with modern DNA analysis technology. The results were disappointing for Yeti fans: the finger was, in fact, human.

Even more embarrassingly, the testing showed a lot of DNA contamination that traced back to none other than Peter Byrne himself.

The Infamous Yeti Scalps

You think the story ends with the Pangboche Hand? Not even close.

Before Tom Slick-F. Kirk Johnson Expedition, the same region “produced” more Yeti evidence: three alleged scalps found at monasteries in Pangboche, Khumjung, and Namche Bazaar.

The first of these relics was shown to outsiders on October 9, 1953, at the Pangboche Monastery. Among the first Westerners to examine the scalp were Charles Evans (a British mountaineer) and Professor Fürer-Haimendorf (an anthropologist).

The item proved to be quite unusual. And it sparked interest.

Related: El Pombero: The Enigmatic Forest Spirit of Guaraní Mythology

Two expeditions—the Daily Mail and the World Book Encyclopedia—were organized to further examine the artifact.

However, the Pangboche scalp (presumably over 300 years old) was in poor condition by the time of these investigations—having lost a significant amount of hair over the centuries. So, the results were again… inconclusive.

The first significant breakthrough happened later, with the help of Bernard Heuvelmans (“father of cryptozoology”).

He compared the hairs from the scalps with Capricornis sumatraensis (a species related to the Nepalese serow), which he got from a European zoo. After careful analysis, Heuvelmans concluded that the scalps from Khumjung and Namche Bazaar were newer imitations (fakes).

As for the Pangboche scalp? He figured out that the hairs most likely came from a Nepalese serow—a goat-antelope native to the Himalayas.

He also proposed that the objects were most likely ritualistic props. Possibly used in Yeti dances rather than actual remnants of the fabled creature.

SpookySight’s note:
We believe it’s very possible that the monks at Namche Bazaar may have crafted their version of the scalp out of jealousy. Why? Probably to rival the prestige of the monasteries at Pangboche and Khumjung. Peter Byrne even commented on the local gossip that a Tibetan taxidermist had made the Khumjung scalp just 12 to 15 years earlier.

Footprints

Footprints have always been the most frequently reported Yeti evidence.

One of the most famous cases comes from Eric Shipton’s 1951 Everest expedition. While up in the mountains, he took a few photos of large, humanoid footprints in the snow on the Menlung Glacier. Each footprint was about 13 inches long with distinct toe impressions. The images led many to speculate about a bipedal creature.

Over time, scientists have suggested alternative explanations. For example, bears may have made the tracks. Sometimes, their prints can overlap in the snow, leaving the impression of much larger footprints. Or, the prints could have been natural formations.

Another notable footprint case happened in 1970. This time, the famed mountaineer Reinhold Messner claimed to have seen a Yeti-like creature and found footprints in the snow afterward.

When he was later interviewed about the encounter, he changed his story. He suggested that many Yeti sightings (including the footprints he discovered) might be attributed to bears.

In 2007, while filming for the TV show Destination Truth, adventurer Joshua Gates and his team found another set of massive footprints (some measuring between 13 to 19 inches) near the base of the Himalayas.

The prints were cast and brought back for analysis. But again, the results were inconclusive.

Hair Samples

In 2013, geneticist Bryan Sykes performed a comprehensive DNA analysis on multiple Yeti-related hair samples (collected by various expeditions).

His study matched the samples not to an unknown primate but to brown bears native to the Himalayas and, surprisingly, Pleistocene-era polar bears.

While disappointing for Yeti fans, his finding offered an exciting twist: some sightings might be attributed to rare (and potentially yet undiscovered) bear hybrids.

In 2017, Charlotte Lindqvist (geneticist and evolutionary biologist known for her work in genomics, phylogenomics, and conservation biology) led a groundbreaking study that analyzed several alleged Yeti samples, including hair, bones, and teeth.

Her team’s genetic analysis revealed that many of these samples, rather than belonging to an unknown cryptid, actually came from Himalayan brown bears and Tibetan bears.

Lindqvist published her study in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B and helped debunk a significant amount of so-called Yeti evidence by showing that bears native to the Himalayas were likely the source of many Yeti sightings and footprints.

SpookySight’s Take

At SpookySight, we’ve gone through every piece of information out there on the Yeti—whether it’s ancient Buddhist myths or modern-day expeditions.

We find it truly impressive how the Yeti legend survived for so long. There are centuries-old Buddhist Yeti myths about a “guardian of the mountains.” Or a “protector of nature.”

The fact that locals have passed down these stories through generations is fascinating. It shows how deeply it’s woven into the region’s cultural fabric.

Now, from the perspective of cryptids fans—and after reviewing all the evidence—we believe the Yeti is most likely the result of misidentified animals.

Most of the sightings can probably be explained by overly eager explorers who hyped up their findings. Or by outsiders who couldn’t correctly recognize more exotic species such as Himalayan brown bears, Tibetan blue bears, or even the Nepalese serow.

But that doesn’t mean there’s nothing else out there. We think it’s most likely a misidentified animal. But let’s be honest—we can’t say that with 100% certainty. Who knows? There’s always the chance of uncovering something new!