The supposed Yeti footprints were sighted by an Indian Army team near the Makalu Base Camp in the Himalayas (Photo: Twitter/Indian Army)

The Nepal Army has dismissed the Indian Army's claims that mysterious footprints seen near a base camp in the Himalayas could belong to the mythical creature Yeti. A Nepal Army officer said the footprints were likely that of a wild bear. Wild bears are known to frequent the region where an Indian Army team came across the giant-sized footprints.

In a late-night tweet on Monday, the Indian Army posted a series of photos of large footprints sighted near the Makalu Base Camp in Nepal. The Army said the footprints were sighted by its mountaineering team.

"For the first time, an #IndianArmy Moutaineering Expedition Team has sited Mysterious Footprints of mythical beast 'Yeti' measuring 32x15 inches...," the Army tweeted, leaving Twitter in shock, awe and astonishment.

For the first time, an #IndianArmy Moutaineering Expedition Team has sited Mysterious Footprints of mythical beast 'Yeti' measuring 32x15 inches close to Makalu Base Camp on 09 April 2019. This elusive snowman has only been sighted at Makalu-Barun National Park in the past. pic.twitter.com/AMD4MYIgV7 ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) April 29, 2019

Next morning, the Indian Army reiterated its claims. Sources in the Army said the tweet was based on "physical proofs of on the spot narration, photos and videos".

"The evidences have been photographed and handed over to subject matter experts," the sources said, adding that the tweet was meant to "excite scientific temper and rekindle interest".

The Nepal Army, however, has rejected the claims. Nepal Army spokesperson, Brigadier General Bigyan Dev Pandey, told Hindustan Times that a Nepal Army liaison team was with the Indian Army team when the footprints were sighted.

Brigadier Pandey said locals and porters claimed that the footprints belonged to a wild bear. "A team of Indian Army had noticed the footprints and our liaison team was together with them... We tried to ascertain the fact, but locals and porters claimed that it is the footprints of wild bear that frequently appear in that area," Brigadier General Pandey told Hindustan Times.

Yeti is a mythical, ape-like creature that is also known as the Big Foot and Abominable Snowman. Yeti's existence has long been debated but never proven.