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For conspiracy theorists the mystery of the so-called Yeti is the gift that keeps on giving.
Since the 1920s climbers in the Himalayas have been under the spell of tales by sherpa
porters and guides about a wild and hairy creature also known as the Abominable Snowman.
More recently in 2007 TV producers armed with infrared cameras, spent a week in the Khumba
region where Mount Everest is and they produced evidence of what they claimed were day-old
footprints.
"You're looking at five digits, shape of a foot, the heel, very anthropomorphic, human
looking but also enormous."
In 2011 scientists and yeti enthusiasts came together and said they were sure the creature
lived in Siberia. On a visit to the Kemerovo region the discovery of hair and a large footprint
inside a cave only increased fevered speculation. Now, fresh research is tackling the Yeti mystery.
Professor of human genetics Bryan Sykes studied hairs from two unknown animals, found in Himalayan
regions 800 miles apart. After the most advanced DNA tests available, he found that a sample
completely matched that on a database with an ancient polar bear jawbone found in Norway.
Possibly dating back around 120,000 years to a time when polar bears and brown bears
were separating as different species. He reckons the mysterious animal in the Himalayas could
be a hybrid of both.
The research mirrors that of mountaineer Reinhold Messner who found a three hundred year old
Tibetan manuscript saying the yeti was a variety of bear.
Yeti believers will pour over the latest findings but they are far from a substantial conclusion
and Professor Sykes says the results need more interpretation. Enthusiasts may oblige
but for how long can the search be for footprints before the next step needs to be looking for
bones.