In which European country did a man-eating animal or animals terrorize the population between 1764 to 1767?

The Beast of Gevaudan is the historical name associated with a man-eating animal or animals that terrorized the former province of Gevaudan (modern-day department of Lozere and part of Haute-Loire) located in the Margeride Mountains in south-central France. The beast attacks covered an area approximately 90 by 80 kilometers (56 by 50 miles) during a period from 1764 and 1767.

According to witnesses, the attacks were committed by one or more beasts with formidable teeth and immense tails with most descriptions identifying the beast as a striped hyena, wolf, dog, or wolf-dog hybrid. The beast’s fur was described as tawny or sunset in color but its back was streaked black and a white heart-shaped pattern was noted on its underbelly.

Victims were often killed by having their throats torn out. At the time, actual descriptions and documented reports may have been exaggerated due to public hysteria.

Today, modern scholars attribute hysteria about the attacks as contributing to the widespread myths that supernatural beasts ruled Gevaudan; deaths attributed to a beast were more likely the result of a number of wolves or packs of wolves.

A 1987 study estimated there had been 610 attacks, resulting in 500 deaths and 49 injuries; 98 of the victims killed were partially eaten. Other sources claim the animal or animals killed between 60 and 100 adults and children and injured more than 30. The beast was reported killed several times before the attacks finally stopped.