A severed finger, labelled as belonging to a Yeti, has been discovered in the vaults of the Hunterian Museum at the Royal College of Surgeons in London. The withered digit, which was found three years ago, is believed to have come from the so-called 'Pangboche hand', a relic once displayed at a Buddhist monastery in Nepal.
The finger was found among a collection of human and primate skeletons, and its label claims it originates from the Pangboche hand, which was revered by monks as a protective charm. The rest of the hand's whereabouts remain unknown, sparking questions about the authenticity of the relic and its journey to the UK.
The Yeti, or Abominable Snowman, is a legendary ape-like creature said to inhabit the Himalayan regions of Nepal and Tibet. Tales of the creature date back centuries, but Western interest grew in the 19th and 20th centuries, with numerous expeditions seeking evidence. In 1954, the Daily Mail sponsored an expedition that collected hair samples from a supposed Yeti scalp at the Pangboche monastery.
The finger's discovery has reignited debate over the existence of the Yeti. While some point to fossil remains of the extinct giant ape Gigantopithecus as a possible explanation, the scientific community largely regards the Yeti as a myth. The finger is now being studied to determine its origin, though no conclusive results have been announced.
