MONSTERS, CRYPTIDS AND SUPERNATURAL CREATURES
YETI
Abominable Snowman, Meh-Teh, Yeh-teh
The Yeti (better known as The Abominable Snowman) is one of the most famous cryptozoological creatures. However, It is not the shaggy-furred, white snowbeast of Hollywood movies and popular artwork, but a dark brown, or reddish-brown animal of the sub-temperate and temperate forests and mountainsides of the Himalayan Mountains and Tibetan Plateau, that is well known for leaving its tracks in snow. Despite dozens of expeditions into the remote mountain regions of Russia, China and Nepal, as well as footage, casts and possible artifacts, the existence of the Yeti still remains unproven, yet to this day attracts many whom firmly believe it exists. It's introduction to the western world, possibly goes back as far as 1832, when The Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal published an account by B. H. Hodgson, a trekker in Northern Nepal, in which he describes spotting a large bipedal creature covered in long dark hair. However, for those native to the region, where it is believed to reside, it is an extremely spiritual creature, rich in folklore, where tales of its existence have been handed down through generations over hundreds of years and artistic representations of it can be found in ancient temples and monasteries.
Physiology:
The Yeti is a predominantly a large, bipedal creature, often compared physiologically to the American sasquatch, due to both their structural similarity to the great apes family. Descriptions of the creature place its height between 6 to 9 feet tall and weighing 200 to 400 pounds. It is covered in dark brown or reddish-brown hair, have a sagittal crest atop its head and possess an extremely potent smell.
Etylmology:
Yeti is derived from the Sherpa word yet-teh, the meaning of which is disputed. L.Coleman & J.Clark wrote in 1999 that it meant "that thing". However, other possible meaning are "cliff dwelling bear or "animal of rocky places. G.Eberhart wrote in Mysterious Creatures (2002) that the etymology is not truly established.
History:
In 1921, British explorer Charles Howard-Bury spotted huge footprints while on an expedition to Mount Everest. His Sherpa guide told him that they were those of the "metoh-kangmi" (man-bear snowman). From this, the world first heard of the abominable snowman, or yeti, one of the most widely known legends of our time.
Territory:
Nepal, Asia, Tibbet, India, China, Bhutan, India, Russia, Mongolia.
Origination:
According to H. Siiger, the Yeti was a part of the pre-Buddhist beliefs of several Himalayan people. He was told that the Lepcha people worshipped a "Glacier Being" as a God of the Hunt. He also reported that followers of the Bön religion once believed the blood of the "mi rgod" or "wild man" had use in certain mystical ceremonies. The being was depicted as an apelike creature who carries a large stone as a weapon and makes a whistling swoosh sound.
Nature:
Mysterious and elusive. There are Tibetan Buddhist legends, that describe Yeti, as being benevolent creatures, with mention of them providing gifts, shelter and nourishment to monks whom have encountered them. However, beyond these tales its true nature is unknown and the likelyhood of one being as hostile as any other wild beast if approached would be high.
Modus Operandi:
Although the Yeti is considered a solitary creature by many, there are recorded sigtings of them travelling in groups of 3 or more. This could indicate that, on occasion they hunt in packs. During these hunts, it is said the Yeti attack yaks, which will kill by grabbing the horns and twisting the head, breaking its neck or suffocating it.
Vulnerability:
Writer Tshering Tashi explained during a literature event about yetis at the Mountain Echoes Festival in Bhutan's capital, that the best thing to do if one encounters a yeti depends on its gender, "If it's a male yeti, our grandparents tell us, you run uphill. The male yeti is supposed to be hairy, and it trips while climbing," he said. For a female yeti, one should run downhill, because the creature's large and sagging breasts slow it down.