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Beast of Dean

Last reviewed Oct 25, 2026 Next review Nov 9, 2026

Painted illustration: huge boar-like beast in an ancient English oak forest at dusk — AI rendition based on witness descriptions, not an actual photo.

Woodland in the Forest of Dean, where Beast of Dean sightings are reported — Woodland in the Forest of Dean, where Beast of Dean sightings are reported · Ray Bird · CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons) · Image source · License

An animal of English folklore said to live, or have lived, in the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire.

Folklore Verdict: A forest legend with nothing physical behind it.

Region: Europe · United Kingdom (England)
First reports: Early 19th century

Key sightings

Several attempts to find or kill it were made in the early 1800s.

Best evidence

No scientific evidence has been found.

Sources

Wikipedia: Beast of Dean ↗