No one can confirm the exact number of victims Gevaudan creature attacks. But Dr. Beaufort that has examined this case found there was at least 210 attacks associated with this creature. From among the 210 victims of the attacks there were 49 injuries. While the death toll rose to 113 people. 98 of them were killed with a mutilated body condition due to eat.
It all begins on the date of June 1, 1764.
At that time, a girl who was 14 years old come out to graze their livestock to a pasture near Gevaudan in Southern France. He did not suspect that what happened will be the beginning of a mystery that lasted until hundreds of years later.
When looking at livestock-cattle, he looked toward the bushes are nearby. Movement in the bush was quite aroused his curiosity.
He does not have to wait long.
A moment later, a large animal like a dog out of the bushes and immediately ran towards him. Although these animals have a way like a dog, his body is very big, huge even match a buffalo.
When the animal is about to pounce, the girl was using his stick to hit him. But energy can not be compared with that big monster. Fortunately, at that time he brought some dogs for protection. These dogs react when he saw the creature and immediately attacked him.
The creature was still trying to approach the girl before finally retreated and disappeared into the distance.
The statue which was established in commemoration of GevaudanThe first assault incident
No one has ever seen this creature before. But after the events in the meadow, he began to frequently appear and spread terror that takes more lives than 100 people.
On June 30 the same year, the monster asks his first victim. Jeanne Boulet who is also 14 years old was found dead near the village of Les Hubacs, not far from the Gevaudan. Children of this poor woman was found with a torn chest and heart are scattered.
Gazzete Paris daily, published in June 1764 contains a description of an eyewitness who saw the creature:
"The creature was taller than a wolf in general. soles of his feet are equipped with a nail. The color is reddish fur, big head, while his mouth filled with sharp teeth is very similar to Greyhound dogs. His ears were small and straight, wide chest is gray while the back has black groove. "
The creature was also called out a bad odor.
This description does not match any known animal at the time.In many instances, the creature appeared and attacked the residents. In September 1764, death toll from the attack has reached one victim every week. Each victim was killed by the pathetic condition of the bodies, usually with neck torn and mutilated body. In many of the victims, clearly visible marks eaten.
In October, the deaths continued with the discovery of the bodies, mostly women and children in various places in the village.
At that time, news about this creature has spread widely throughout France. Villagers in the vicinity of Gevaudan experiencing tremendous fear. House doors locked and the residents to reduce outdoor activities. Those who were forced out of the house will bring a friend and a weapon to protect themselves.
Actually there is another reason why the villagers were gripped by fear, which is circulating the rumor that the beast was actually a loup garou or Werewolves (Werewolf). Rumor is growing because in some occasions the creature's look is not affected by a bullet that is released. One of the farmers even managed to stab him with a knife. But the creature was not hurt at all.
This fact makes the people believe they are dealing with supernatural beings.
In January 1765, occurred an incident that led to the French king intervene.
At that time, Jacques Portefaix and six of his friends met with the creature. But by staying in groups, they managed to fight and menghalaunya. Resistance is made by Jacques and his friends soon attracted the attention of King Louis XV which is then rewarded Jacques with 300 livres and 300 livres other for his friends.
Not only that, the king also decided to send a professional wolf hunter named Jean Charles Marc Antoine d'Vaumesle Enneval and his son Jean Francois to find and kill the monster.
Besides those two, at least there are about two thousand other people who helped hunt these creatures.
On February 17, 1765, Francois d'Enneval and arrived at Clermont Ferrand. They brought eight dogs that have been experienced hunter. However, the two hunters are even spending time in months to hunt down and shot the wolves because they believe that this animal which has been responsible for these bloody attacks.
As a result, casualties continued to fall.
In June 1765, the king began to run out of patience. It replaces the two hunters with Antoine Francois who previously served as the king's armor bearer.
On September 21, 1765, Antoine had killed a large wolf that has a height of 80 cm with a length of up to 1.7 meters. This wolf nicknamed Le Loup de Chazes.
Illustration: The wolf that was caught by Antoine About these animals, Antoine said:
"We've never seen a wolf with the body size of this magnitude. Therefore, we conclude that these beings are creatures who have committed attacks on villagers."
Wolf carcasses were brought to Versailles. Antoine was hailed as a hero and received a lot of money as a gift.
But the bloody attack was not over. This indicates that Antoine has been killing the wrong monsters!
On December 2, 1765, the creature was seen at La Besseyre Saint Mary's and attacked two children.
In the following months continued to fall victim.
In 1767, the attacks suddenly stopped, and many believe that the Beast of Gevaudan was dead.
Unfortunately, this story ends with gray.
Historians have many different theories about the end of the attack. But the most popular legend states that the monster was killed by a local resident named Jean Chastel on June 19, 1767.
According to the story, one day, Chastel who then join hunt the creature with other colleagues, sitting at a place and decided to pray to God about the whole issue. After that he took out his Bible and began reading. Recently he read a few paragraphs, all of a sudden Beast of Gevaudan appeared in front of him.
Chastel immediately leveled his rifle and killed the creature.
Legend Chastel then taken by many writers and modified so it is more myth than fact odorless. For example, one writer tells when the Beast of Gevaudan is actually really a werewolf and Chastel himself is his father. That's why he managed to kill and bury their carcasses in one place.
Other authors mention if Chastel can kill because it uses a silver bullet.
So we get a story that mixed the facts with imagination.
Then the question is, whether the Beast of Gevaudan creature it really?
Regarding credentials, there are various opinions expressed. The most popular theory is the theory of werewolf or werewolf. As I mentioned above, this assumption appears because of its ability bullet or stab resistant. In addition, the extraordinary size of her body does not match the characteristics of any animal.
But this theory does not have sufficient evidence to confirm it.
Richard H. Thompson, author of "Wolf hunting in France in the Reign of Louis XV: The beast of Gevaudan", believe that the creature is actually a kind of a big wolf.
Although wild wolves tend to avoid humans, but some experts believe that wolves in the centuries past more aggressive. Wolves tend to shy in these modern times is actually the result of natural selection.
This view is also based on the fact that the victim was killed by wolf attacks in these modern times in general are children. If there are adults who are victims, it generally is a woman.
But this theory fails to explain the characteristics and the way these creatures that did not look like a wolf.
Another theory says that the creature is the result of crossbreeding between a dog with a wild wolf. This is indicated by body size and fur color which is unusual. This speculation is supported by a naturalist named Louis Michel, who wrote a book called "The Beast of Gevaudan: The Innocence of Wolves".
According to Louis, most of the villagers claimed to have seen Jean Chastel with a large mastiff dog red. He believes if the dog is the true Beast of Gevaudan. Louis also believe that the dog's ability to withstand bullets probably because he was worn clothes from pig skin which also explains the strange fur color.
In other words, Louis believes that the creature is Chastel own pets.
In addition to these theories, some Cryptozoologyst believe that the creature is probably the descendants of ancient animals mesonychids kind that in some way managed to survive in these modern times.
But, just like any other theory, there is no supporting arguments are strong enough to confirm this theory.
As a result, casualties continued to fall.
In June 1765, the king began to run out of patience. It replaces the two hunters with Antoine Francois who previously served as the king's armor bearer.
On September 21, 1765, Antoine had killed a large wolf that has a height of 80 cm with a length of up to 1.7 meters. This wolf nicknamed Le Loup de Chazes.
Illustration: The wolf that was caught by Antoine"We've never seen a wolf with the body size of this magnitude. Therefore, we conclude that these beings are creatures who have committed attacks on villagers."
Wolf carcasses were brought to Versailles. Antoine was hailed as a hero and received a lot of money as a gift.
But the bloody attack was not over. This indicates that Antoine has been killing the wrong monsters!
On December 2, 1765, the creature was seen at La Besseyre Saint Mary's and attacked two children.
In the following months continued to fall victim.
In 1767, the attacks suddenly stopped, and many believe that the Beast of Gevaudan was dead.
Unfortunately, this story ends with gray.
Historians have many different theories about the end of the attack. But the most popular legend states that the monster was killed by a local resident named Jean Chastel on June 19, 1767.
According to the story, one day, Chastel who then join hunt the creature with other colleagues, sitting at a place and decided to pray to God about the whole issue. After that he took out his Bible and began reading. Recently he read a few paragraphs, all of a sudden Beast of Gevaudan appeared in front of him.
Chastel immediately leveled his rifle and killed the creature.
Legend Chastel then taken by many writers and modified so it is more myth than fact odorless. For example, one writer tells when the Beast of Gevaudan is actually really a werewolf and Chastel himself is his father. That's why he managed to kill and bury their carcasses in one place.
Other authors mention if Chastel can kill because it uses a silver bullet.
So we get a story that mixed the facts with imagination.
Then the question is, whether the Beast of Gevaudan creature it really?
Regarding credentials, there are various opinions expressed. The most popular theory is the theory of werewolf or werewolf. As I mentioned above, this assumption appears because of its ability bullet or stab resistant. In addition, the extraordinary size of her body does not match the characteristics of any animal.
But this theory does not have sufficient evidence to confirm it.
Richard H. Thompson, author of "Wolf hunting in France in the Reign of Louis XV: The beast of Gevaudan", believe that the creature is actually a kind of a big wolf.
Although wild wolves tend to avoid humans, but some experts believe that wolves in the centuries past more aggressive. Wolves tend to shy in these modern times is actually the result of natural selection.
This view is also based on the fact that the victim was killed by wolf attacks in these modern times in general are children. If there are adults who are victims, it generally is a woman.
But this theory fails to explain the characteristics and the way these creatures that did not look like a wolf.
Another theory says that the creature is the result of crossbreeding between a dog with a wild wolf. This is indicated by body size and fur color which is unusual. This speculation is supported by a naturalist named Louis Michel, who wrote a book called "The Beast of Gevaudan: The Innocence of Wolves".
According to Louis, most of the villagers claimed to have seen Jean Chastel with a large mastiff dog red. He believes if the dog is the true Beast of Gevaudan. Louis also believe that the dog's ability to withstand bullets probably because he was worn clothes from pig skin which also explains the strange fur color.
In other words, Louis believes that the creature is Chastel own pets.
In addition to these theories, some Cryptozoologyst believe that the creature is probably the descendants of ancient animals mesonychids kind that in some way managed to survive in these modern times.
But, just like any other theory, there is no supporting arguments are strong enough to confirm this theory.
Another theory emerged in October 2009 when the History Channel aired a documentary entitled The Real Wolfman. At the show, the Beast of Gevaudan called Hyena Asia that has been extinct in Europe. However, not all agree with this view because Hyena only have 34 teeth. While the body of the victim based on autopsy results, Beast of Gevaudan has 42 teeth.So, no definite conclusion and we are still guessing the identity of the monster. But, certainly, no one can deny that in 1764 in France, more than 100 people have died horribly in the attack of the mysterious beast.
Read also about the Werewolf and Shunka Warakin.
(wikipedia, hubpages.com, associatedcontent.com)
