Siberians are '95 per cent certain' that Yeti exists

After a rise in sightings and an international conference devoted to providing evidence of the fabled creature's existence, Siberian officials have proclaimed that they are "95 per cent certain" of the existence of the Yeti.

The bold claim comes after a gathering of "Yeti experts" in the Kemerovo region this weekend. Those in attendance swapped stories testifying to the existence of the forest-dwelling semi-human beasts.

With Yeti sightings apparently up 300 per cent over the past two decades in Kemerovo, the town of Tashtagol was chosen to host the conference, which featured specialists from Russia, the United States, China and several European countries.

Participants went on a hike through nearby forest land and found outsized footprints in caves. They exchanged supposedly incontrovertible evidence of the existence of the hirsute hominids, including videos and historical documents.

"During the expedition... the conference participants collected indisputable evidence that proved the snow-man lives in Gornaya Shoriya region," said a statement from regional officials. "His tracks, presumed resting place, and different markers with which the Yeti marks its territory were all found."

Sceptics suggested that the whole exercise was merely a weak attempt to boost tourism to the Siberian region.