Moogha – The Scarred Warrior of Bandipur
Moogha (also known as Mooga or Moogu) was a dominant male tiger in Bandipur Tiger Reserve, Karnataka. Around 7 years old, with a massive, muscular build, he was famous for the deep scar across his nose — "Moogu" means "nose" in Kannada. Despite previous injuries, he successfully hunted large Gaurs (Indian bison), becoming a symbol of raw power and resilience.
In October 2021, Moogha encountered a powerful tusker elephant near Ganji Katte. The giant charged and gored him brutally, piercing his chest and lungs with sharp tusks. Moogha staggered through the forest, bleeding heavily, until forest patrols found him.
He was rushed to Mysuru Zoo for emergency surgery. Thanks to his incredible fighting spirit, he recovered enough to be released back into the wild — but the wounds were too severe.
Moogha eventually succumbed to the injuries from that elephant attack (around 2021-2022)