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Beast of Gévaudan
Man-eating animal in the 1760s / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Beast of Gévaudan (French: La Bête du Gévaudan, IPA: [la bɛt dy ʒevodɑ̃]; Occitan: La Bèstia de Gavaudan) is the historic name associated with a man-eating animal or animals that terrorized the former province of Gévaudan (consisting of the modern-day department of Lozère and part of Haute-Loire), in the Margeride Mountains of south-central France between 1764 and 1767.[1]
![]() | You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in French. (July 2024) Click [show] for important translation instructions.
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![]() Artist's conception of one of the Beasts of Gévaudan, 18th-century engraving by A.F. of Alençon | |
First attested | 1764 |
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Other name(s) | La bête du Gévaudan (French) La Bèstia de Gavaudan (Occitan) |
Country | France |
Region | Gévaudan (modern-day Lozère and part of Haute-Loire) |
The attacks, which covered an area spanning 90 by 80 kilometres (56 by 50 mi), were said to have been committed by one or more beasts of a tawny/russet colour with dark streaks/stripes and a dark stripe down its back, a tail "longer than a wolf's" ending in a tuft according to contemporary eyewitnesses. It was said to attack with formidable teeth and claws, and appeared to be the size of a calf or cow and seemed to fly or bound across fields towards its victims. These descriptions from the period could identify the beast as a young lion, a striped hyena, a large wolf, a large dog, or a wolfdog, though its identity is still the subject of debate.
The Kingdom of France used a considerable amount of wealth and manpower to hunt the animals responsible, including the resources of several nobles, soldiers, royal huntsmen, and civilians.[1] The number of victims differs according to the source. A 1987 study estimated there had been 210 attacks, resulting in 113 deaths and 49 injuries; 98 of the victims killed were partly eaten.[1] Other sources claim the animal or animals killed between 60 and 100 adults and children and injured more than 30.[1] Victims were often killed by having their throats torn out. The beast was reported killed several times before the attacks finally stopped.