The Beast of Gévaudan

Astonishing Legends vor 5 Jahren

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2:38:27

In the years between 1764 and 1767, a real-life monster had
brutally savaged the residents of the former province of Gévaudan
in the highland region of south-central France. While the
creature's first attack was reportedly unsuccessful in killing
its intended victim, it did provide a horrific description of
it. Some sort of massive, canine-like creature was stalking
the villagers out in their fields of the Margeride
mountains. And it would remain as elusive as its killing
spree grew nightmarishly effective. In a three-year span,
contemporary and modern estimates put the death toll anywhere
from around 100 to 500 people, mostly women, and children.
To add to the fear and suffering, these were no ordinary large
animal predator attacks. Considering that only a small
percentage of the victims were found partially consumed, with
livestock untouched, the bodies of all were so shockingly
mutilated that it could be surmised this abomination of nature
was not killing out of hunger but for sport. As news of the
relentless slaughter spread throughout France, tens of thousands
from every walk of life, peasants, soldiers, and noblemen alike,
joined in the hunt to stop this menace. Reports had even
reached Versaille, where King Louis XV had placed a large bounty
on its head. When survivors and eyewitnesses had given
their statements, a puzzling picture of the beast emerged.
Although many accounts described this creature as having some
features like an abnormally large wolf, or wolf-dog hybrid, other
details combined didn't fit any known animal. It was also
described as the size of a calf or donkey, with reddish hair and
a black stripe down its back, giant, razor-sharp teeth set in the
gaping mouth of a pig-like head, a tail with a tuft on its end,
and talons on its feet. This being was shot and wounded on
several occasions at close range only to escape and kill again,
adding a supernatural element to the legend. Many believed
then as they do now that this animal must have been a canine
mutation of some sort. However, without the descriptor of
"werewolf" or "skinwalker" added to the story, saying it was just
a vicious, big dog leaves an unsatisfactory conclusion.
With no remains or taxonomy to define this murderous freak, the
only name that could be given to it then is the one that remains
today: The Beast of Gévaudan.

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