By Tim Binnall
Wildlife officials in India could not believe their eyes after a camera trap captured images of an incredibly rare Tibetan brown bear that had ventured into the country. Revealing the remarkable photos in a press release, the Forest and Environment Department for the state of Sikkim, which is situated in the Himalayan mountains, called the historic pictures a "groundbreaking revelation" as they constitute the "first-ever confirmed record" of the elusive creature in India. Rarely seen in the wild, let alone photographed, they indicated that this specific species of bear seen in the images is believed to be responsible for "the folklore of the Yeti" in the area.
Extrapolating on that notion, they explained that "over the last many decades" there have been reports of "a large unidentified animal stealing sugar and oil" from the camps of herders operating in high-altitude regions of the Himalayas. While previous attempts to locate the mysterious creature proved unsuccessful, the photos captured by the trail cam seemingly confirm scientists' suspicions that the 'cryptid' behind the incidents was likely the Tibetan brown bear as it is known to occupy the same region though it is rarely seen by witnesses. Marveling that the pictures are an "extraordinary discovery," the department expressed hope that the photos will inspire greater conservation efforts to protect the species and its habitat.