This femur bone is from a purported Yeti found in a cave in Tibet.
Yeti Legends Are Based on These Real Animals, DNA Shows
The best look yet at supposed Yeti samples also offers valuable insight into the genetic histories of rare Himalayan bears.
Among the snowy peaks of Nepal and Tibet, stories tell of a mysterious ape-like creature called the Yeti. Purported to be a towering human-like figure covered in shaggy fur, the Yeti continues to excite dedicated believers still hoping for evidence that the mythical beast is real. (Read about a man who searched for the Yeti for 60 years.)
Now, DNA analysis of multiple supposed Yeti samples—including hair, teeth, fur, and feces—shows that the stories are based on real animals roaming the high mountains. The results, published this week in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B, are the best evidence yet that the Yeti legend is rooted in Himalayan black and brown bears.
Study leader Charlotte Lindqvist of
