Khonoma Nature Conservation and Tragopan Sanctuary, Protected forest sanctuary near Kohima, India.
Khonoma Nature Conservation and Tragopan Sanctuary is a forest protection area in the Barail Range near Kohima with different forest types and abundant wildlife. The site covers subtropical woodlands where hundreds of plant species and birds such as the rare Blyth's tragopan are found.
Local residents founded this sanctuary in 1998 after a hunting competition resulted in the death of hundreds of rare birds. This event marked a turning point that prompted the community to permanently protect their forest lands.
The Angami community actively manages this sanctuary and transformed their hunting heritage into a conservation model. Visitors can observe how local people work daily to protect the forest and its animals.
The area is best reached through nearby Kohima, which offers accommodations and guided tours year-round. The best time to visit is during the bird breeding season when wildlife viewing is most rewarding.
The sanctuary brings together three different forest types in one location, making it an important bird area. This variety allows visitors to spot multiple rare bird species in one place that would otherwise be spread across distant regions.
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