We’d heard stories of the yeti being a guardian of the forest or a bogeyman for children in other parts of the Himalayas, but for the Brokpa people it was on a whole different level. The yeti plays a central role in their culture and their origin story, and they even have texts giving precise instructions on what to do when you encounter one.

Then, finally, a little redemption came for me as we met a man who’s part of a network of local people who the fourth King of Bhutan has tasked with seeking out physical evidence of the yeti to send to him. Apparently His Royal Highness has had a lot of deliveries.

So maybe my theory about people knowing about the yeti but not wanting to talk about it was not so far off, after all…It was just that, rather than embarrassment, they felt that this was not something that should be shared more widely. That it was a special and sacred part of their world and they were well aware of the absolute circus, the disruption and destruction, that would result if its existence came to be known outside of Bhutan. I was still in trouble though as, once again, my “listen to the local voices” line seemed a tad hypocritical if those local voices were actually saying “we want to keep this under wraps, and away from you chaps”.