Man-eating wolves... (ancient)

[tablemtn]

From the 1400's through the 1700's, there were a number of alleged giant man-eating wolves running around the west of Europe, especially France. Some of the most famous examples are the "Beasts of Gévaudan," a group of alleged wolflike creatures that stalked the woods and farms of southeastern France, killing and devouring dozens of people.


(Early 1800's depiction of one of the beasts, from Wikipedia)

These types of attacks tapered off after the 1700's, as wolves were increasingly shot on sight by farmers or chased out by hunting parties. But the scale and viciousness of the Gévaudan attacks continues to fuel speculation about what they may have been. Some writers have argued that they were the last of a now-extinct species descended from the ancient "Andrewsarchus," a wolf-like mammal that actually belonged to the same family as horses, pigs, and other even-toed ungulates:


(Photo from the website of the "Museon" museum, The Hague, Netherlands)

I think this is one of the more interesting branches of "cryptozoology" due to the amount of documentation from the time. It's clear that these attacks happened - it's just not exactly clear what was doing the attacking...

[pamelaBeurman]

Wolves rarely go after human prey unless there are extraordinary circumstances. Starving, wounded or rabid wolves are usually the ones that are problematic. Also, she wolves protecting their litter.

I can't say what happened back in the time period that you referenced (i'm old but not THAT old) I would be willing to bet that it was a mixture of actual wolf attacks, hysteria and urban legend gone wild.

Then again, ya just never know..................

[D. Scott]

Originally Posted by pamelaBeurman

Wolves rarely go after human prey unless there are extraordinary circumstances. Starving, wounded or rabid wolves are usually the ones that are problematic. Also, she wolves protecting their litter.

I can't say what happened back in the time period that you referenced (i'm old but not THAT old) I would be willing to bet that it was a mixture of actual wolf attacks, hysteria and urban legend gone wild.

Then again, ya just never know..................

I agree with this. many legends just hysteria with a smattering of truth. Fear of the unknown. Though that thing in the photo on this thread is pretty scary if that rendering is accurate.

[pamelaBeurman]

Originally Posted by D. Scott

I agree with this. many legends just hysteria with a smattering of truth. Fear of the unknown. Though that thing in the photo on this thread is pretty scary if that rendering is accurate.

Trust me Honey, any wild animal coming at you looks about 10 times bigger than it actually is.

The museum exhibit, I agree, that thing looks HUGE!

[D. Scott]

Originally Posted by pamelaBeurman

Trust me Honey, any wild animal coming at you looks about 10 times bigger than it actually is.

The museum exhibit, I agree, that thing looks HUGE!

I am fortunate, Never had a wild animal come after me outdoors. Only seen them in zoos and the like.

We do have wildlife out here though, Underground in the NYC subways.

[pamelaBeurman]

Originally Posted by D. Scott

I am fortunate, Never had a wild animal come after me outdoors. Only seen them in zoos and the like.

We do have wildlife out here though, Underground in the NYC subways.

I've been to NYC.

I think i'm safer in the Colorado high country.

[Chango]

Originally Posted by tablemtn

From the 1400's through the 1700's, there were a number of alleged giant man-eating wolves running around the west of Europe, especially France. Some of the most famous examples are the "Beasts of Gévaudan," a group of alleged wolflike creatures that stalked the woods and farms of southeastern France, killing and devouring dozens of people.


(Early 1800's depiction of one of the beasts, from Wikipedia)

These types of attacks tapered off after the 1700's, as wolves were increasingly shot on sight by farmers or chased out by hunting parties. But the scale and viciousness of the Gévaudan attacks continues to fuel speculation about what they may have been. Some writers have argued that they were the last of a now-extinct species descended from the ancient "Andrewsarchus," a wolf-like mammal that actually belonged to the same family as horses, pigs, and other even-toed ungulates:


(Photo from the website of the "Museon" museum, The Hague, Netherlands)

I think this is one of the more interesting branches of "cryptozoology" due to the amount of documentation from the time. It's clear that these attacks happened - it's just not exactly clear what was doing the attacking...

Wow... I've seen one of those before :


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNlUF9wU5i4

It's interesting how many fantasy creatures were real at on time or another in history. (or will be, should genetic manipulation become more common).

Forget dinosaurs... wait until some mad scientist creates a dragon!

[NVplumber]

I rather like theorizing about thiz kinda stuff. The what if factor. Pleistocene mammals that survived and became the beasts of lore. It is possible in certain cases that this could have been. There was still a lot of remote country in Europe at the times in question. Europe was a very hostile place for pre historic man with su h creatures as the one depicted here Smilodon Dire wolves and a plethora of others. That some of these or an adaptive variant lived on to wreak havoc and become legend iz one of those I want to believe things....

[pamelaBeurman]

Originally Posted by NVplumber

I rather like theorizing about thiz kinda stuff. The what if factor. Pleistocene mammals that survived and became the beasts of lore. It is possible in certain cases that this could have been. There was still a lot of remote country in Europe at the times in question. Europe was a very hostile place for pre historic man with su h creatures as the one depicted here Smilodon Dire wolves and a plethora of others. That some of these or an adaptive variant lived on to wreak havoc and become legend iz one of those I want to believe things....

Interesting! Especially when you consider the fact that new and different types of animals are being discovered every day.

Where are Scully and Mulder when we need them?

[Versatile]

Originally Posted by NVplumber

I rather like theorizing about thiz kinda stuff. The what if factor. Pleistocene mammals that survived and became the beasts of lore. It is possible in certain cases that this could have been. There was still a lot of remote country in Europe at the times in question. Europe was a very hostile place for pre historic man with su h creatures as the one depicted here Smilodon Dire wolves and a plethora of others. That some of these or an adaptive variant lived on to wreak havoc and become legend iz one of those I want to believe things....

Dire wolf?

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