DNA sampling exposes nine 'yeti specimens' as eight bears and a dog

Scientists studying nine samples – including hair and teeth – supposedly from yetis, say the samples are not from a huge hominin but in fact mostly belonged to bears.

Just one sample, taken from a curious stuffed “yeti”, bucked the trend – the creature turned out to be a taxidermy mash-up boasting the hair of a bear and the teeth of a dog.

“It demonstrates that modern science can really try and tackle some of these mysteries and unsolved questions that we have,” said Dr Charlotte Lindqvist, an expert on bear genomics and co-author of the research from the University at Buffalo. The study is not the first time it has been suggested that the yeti might be more ursine than abominable.

A recent study, based on genetic analysis from samples purportedly from yeti-like creatures the world over, found that while most of the samples came from known animals, two from Bhutan and the Indian Himalayas were more mysterious.

The team suggested they might be from an unknown species of bear or a descendant of a hybrid of a polar and brown bear.

UCJ, UNILORIN.