OP, very enjoyable and well researched thread. Another historical cryptid that I had not heard about until now. Great job.
I'm not sure I buy the hyena theory. It has some similarities to the multitude of descriptions, but not quite close enough. Not saying that it
wasn't hyenas for sure, but I'm leaning more towards the side of it being something else.
There's a couple of key points here that I think some are conveniently ignoring. First of all, it would not have been a single animal/person, since
reports stated it was sometimes seen with a much smaller female that did not attack. Second of all, is the length of time in which this creature was
said to have made appearances. Are posters here saying that a single 'beast' or man could live for at least four centuries?
There would have had to have been enough specimens to sustain the species for that long.
Why these points are important to the hyena theory; for one, it's the female hyenas that are typically the larger of the species. They have a
matriarchal hierarchy. Though, in fairness, most people attacking, being attacked or fleeing in blind terror from this thing probably weren't going
to take the time to peek between the legs-- and female hyenas do have some rather, *ahem* unique genitalia,
which could be easily mistaken for
A story of a man finally killing the beast once and for all seems like it could be mostly sensationalism-- to ease the public fear. Especially since
the killings kept on happening.
For argument's sake, let's say they were hyenas. These creatures work in packs, and any other specimens required for a population during that
duration would more than likely have been working together to bring down their prey. Like wolves, they are pack animals.
Also for argument's sake, let's say that some depraved and deranged nobleman actually did have a pair of hyenas imported for his own twisted
amusement. At least one of them would have had to have been some mutant monster specimen to be the consistent 'horse size' that's described.
Granted, if a nobleman wanted some monsters capable of wrecking brown-trousers-inducing horror, he'd hunt around for the biggest, nastiest ones he
That said, the Mesonychids just fit the descriptions better. Toes and
hooves, the long thick tail, the size
, among others. It wouldn't
be the first time that ancient species survived into more modern times, unknown to us, and with seemingly no evidence in the fossil chain. Animals can
be extremely elusive. Another thought; if they were suffering as a species in that area at that time, wouldn't that possibly make them more prone to
aggressive hunting due to lack of other prey? Lots of humans around, let's eat them, they're easy to kill. (Sadly, women's clothing usually isn't
designed for defending oneself or fleeing quickly in a panic. Especially back in those times.)
The varying reports on just what colour this beast was, interested me and got me thinking. It would either be solely due to lighting conditions, or
possibly different coat patterns of separate specimens.