In pictures: Seeking the elusive yeti

Reports of a yeti or forest man have existed in the north-east Indian state of Meghalaya for centuries. Many people in the Garo hills believe that this is a fossilised footprint of a giant early yeti.

There have been repeated reports of sightings of a yeti - known locally as mande barung - in the hills of Nokreg national park. The creature is described as hairy, black and grey in colour.

One of those who has more recently claimed to have seen the creature is wood cutter Nelbison Sangma. He says that it was about 8ft tall and could clearly be seen effortlessly breaking tree branches.

"I believe that I came close to seeing the yeti in 1953 when I was a boy," says farmer Garfield N Marak. "The villagers were terrified, but I went to investigate and clearly saw its footprints."

"The jury is still out on the existence of a yeti," says local magistrate Ferlin A Sangma. "While there are some credible witnesses who say they have seen it, the proof of their case is not there."

"It's possible that mande barung lives here, because it's believed to be nomadic and is always on the move," says villager Watersing Marak. "But until I actually see with my own eyes, I won't believe."

"I definitely believe there is a yeti-like creature somewhere in the Garo hills," says author Llewellyn Marak. "Both my grandfather and father saw it and I have seen its footprints."

"We have not ruled out the existence of mande barung because there have been so many sightings," says senior forestry officer Shri PR Marak, "but we have to remember that Garo people love myths."

Balpakaram national park - where there have also been sightings of the yeti - is in a remote part of north-east India. The road leading to it is littered with the dung of wild elephants.

The road to the park adjoins the India-Bangladesh border and it's possible to stand with one foot in each country. The jungle - home to tigers, leopards and possibly yetis - gets thicker further east.

Balpakaran is famed for its canyon filled with dense and inaccessible jungle and surrounded by steep cliffs. If an Indian yeti does exist, this must surely be where it lives.

Whether or not there is a yeti in the Garo hills may perhaps never be known. The jungle is so thick and so extensive that it's impossible to prove whether mande barung is fact or fiction.

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