The Beast Of Gevaudan targeted heads and necks.
It was common for the creature to rip out a victim’s throat.
However, it was as big as a calf.
Gallica Digital Library
Its fur was brown but its back was streaked with black.
[*] Some witnesses claimed The Beast Of Gevaudan had supernatural abilities.
They believed it could walk on its hind feet like a human.
They believed it could make astounding leaps.
They also believed it could repel bullets and come back from the dead after being struck and wounded.
This is located in south-central France in the Margeride Mountains.
[*] There were over 100 deaths resulting from The Beast Of Gevaudan.
Many others survived the attacks but were seriously injured.
[*] The Beast Of Gevaudan targeted heads and necks.
It was common for the creature to rip out a victims throat.
At one point, 30,000 volunteers were involved with hunting the creature.
Some soldiers even dressed up as peasant women so that attract it.
[*] Around this time, political news was censored by the king.
to sell newspapers, more entertainment-based stories were written about things like The Beast Of Gevaudan.
The constant news updates gave the creature much more attention across the world than it would have otherwise received.
[*] The survivors of The Beast Of Gevaudan became well-known.
A woman named Marie-Jeanne Vallet was attacked and defended herself by wounding the beast.
A statue was made in her honor.
Jacques Portefaix was another victim, a young boy who scared the creature away with pikes.
The king paid him a reward and educated him at his own personal expense.
[*] First captain Duhamel of the Clermont-Ferrand dragoons and his troops were sent to hunt the creature.
Antoine ended up killing a large wolf some believed to be The Beast Of Gevaudan.
However, more attacks followed, debunking the belief.
[*] A man named Jean Chastel eventually killed The Beast Of Gevaudan in 1767.
When the creatures stomach was ripped open by a surgeon, it exposed the contents of its last victim.
Other skeptics believed it was actually a lion.
