France’s Killing Beast

From 1764 to 1767, the province of Gévaudan in south-central France was terrorized by a creature that killed between 100 and 300 people. The Beast of Gévaudan became a national crisis, drawing the attention of King Louis XV himself.

The Terror Begins

June 1764:

• First fatal attack
• Young woman killed
• Near Langogne
• Beast glimpsed
• Panic began

The Region

Gévaudan:

• Rural province
• Modern Lozère
• Mountainous terrain
• Isolated villages
• Perfect hunting ground

The Victims

Three years of death:

• Primarily women
• Children
• Shepherds
• 100-300 killed
• Many more attacked

The Beast

Witness descriptions:

• Wolf-like
• But enormous
• Reddish fur
• Huge teeth
• Resisted bullets

Size Estimates

What they saw:

• Size of a calf
• Or large donkey
• Much bigger than wolf
• Powerful build
• Terrifying

The Attacks

Pattern established:

• Went for throat
• Decapitated some
• Ate parts
• Showed intelligence
• Evaded hunters

Royal Response

King’s involvement:

• Sent professional hunters
• Military deployed
• Rewards offered
• National priority
• Still couldn’t catch it

Jean Chastel

The kill:

• June 19, 1767
• Local hunter
• Silver bullets legend
• Beast killed
• Terror ended

What Was Killed

The body:

• Large animal
• Examined by officials
• Described as unusual
• Not preserved well
• Mystery remains

Theories

What was it?

• Unusually large wolf
• Wolf-dog hybrid
• Hyena (escaped)
• Unknown species
• Multiple animals

Modern Analysis

Recent research:

• Possibly several animals
• Human involvement?
• Trained creature?
• Still debated
• No consensus

Cultural Impact

The beast became:

• Symbol of terror
• Folklore standard
• Movie inspiration
• French legend
• Eternal mystery

Death Toll

The numbers:

• Conservative: 100
• High estimates: 300
• Hundreds attacked
• Survivors scarred
• Regional trauma

Significance

Historical cryptid case with documented victims, royal investigation, and lasting mystery about the creature’s identity.

Legacy

The Beast of Gévaudan represents one of history’s most lethal cryptid cases—a creature that killed dozens to hundreds, defied the king’s hunters, and was never definitively identified.