Beast of Gévaudan Postcard

The Beast of Gévaudan was a man-eating wolf-like animal that terrorised the province of Gévaudan in south-central France from 1764 to 1767. The beast was consistently described by eyewitnesses as having formidable teeth, an immense tail, reddish fur, and an unbearable odour. It killed its victims by tearing at their throats with its teeth. It committed an estimated 210 attacks, resulting in 113 deaths and 49 injuries; 98 of the victims killed were partly eaten. An enormous amount of manpower and resources was used in the hunting of the animal, including the army, conscripted civilians, several nobles, and a number of royal huntsmen.