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Beast of Gévaudan
A monster terrorized the French countryside. Over 100 people killed, many decapitated. The King sent his best hunters. What was the Beast of Gévaudan—wolf, hyena, werewolf, or serial killer with a trained animal?
1764 - 1767
Gévaudan, France
500+ witnesses
The Beast of Gévaudan was a man-eating animal that terrorized the former province of Gévaudan in France, killing approximately 100-300 people between 1764 and 1767.
The Terror
According to documented history:
The Beast:
- Attacked over 200 people
- Killed approximately 100-300
- Operated from 1764 to 1767
- Was hunted by the King’s own hunters
- Became a national obsession
Description
Contemporary accounts describe:
- The size of a cow
- Red or tawny fur
- Black stripe down the back
- Enormous teeth
- Terrible smell
The Attacks
The pattern:
- Victims were often women and children
- Many were decapitated
- The Beast showed unusual fearlessness
- It evaded numerous hunters
The End
Two endings are recorded:
- September 1765: François Antoine killed a large wolf
- June 1767: Jean Chastel killed another animal
- Attacks stopped after Chastel’s kill
Theories
What was the Beast?
- A large wolf or wolves
- A wolf-dog hybrid
- An escaped hyena
- A lion or big cat
- A serial killer using trained animals