Members of Khonoma Village Council seen against the backdrop of a welcome board to Khonoma Dzükou Base Camp on Sunday afternoon. They have been stationed here for the last three days facilitating the containment of wildfire.
Khonoma villagers voice anguish as Dzükou burns
Vishü Rita Krocha
Khonoma | December 14
Known for its rich biodiversity and carefully protected landscape, the Khonoma Dzükou valley suffered extensive damage after a wildfire broke out on December 12, an incident that village authorities say has undone years of conservation efforts.
Community leaders of Khonoma Village point to the potential loss of biodiversity, noting that birds, wildlife, and soil-dwelling reptiles that once roamed the valley may no longer be seen.
The once-lush landscape, adorned with flowers and teeming with life, was quickly reduced to ashes, leaving the community, among the first responders, deeply concerned at the scale of the devastation.
“What we have been conserving for years has been destroyed overnight,” Pevi Meyase, a member of the Khonoma Village Council (KVC), said, clearly distraught over the situation, which has led to the mobilisation of hundreds of village youths to contain the fire since it broke out on December 12.
Two years ago, on December 12, 2023, the Khonoma Nature Conservation and Tragopan Sanctuary (KNCTS) also observed a significant milestone and celebrated 25 years of its conservation efforts of wildlife and sustainable living.
KNCTS was established in 1998 under the motto, “Care for Nature,” and covers a total area of 123 sq km, including a core sanctuary of 20 sq km.
Since the fire broke out, the KVC, led by the Chairman, Ngusa Ratsa, has been stationed at the Khonoma Dzükou Base Camp, making necessary arrangements for youths and officials who have been trekking to Dzükou in different batches for the third consecutive day.
“We are very saddened that this beautiful valley has been completely destroyed,” he said, adding that visitors and tourists are required to register at a designated point before entering Dzükou, “but they have gone ahead without informing anybody.”
Another KVC member, Vinyü Meyase held that the most disappointing aspect was that visitors secretly entering the area.
“Dzükou is there for everyone to enjoy its beauty, and it does not only belong to Khonoma Village but the whole of Nagaland,” he said.
Meyase also expressed deep concern that many wild animals may have been burnt to death.
A recognised biodiversity hotspot, Khonoma Dzükou is known for its rich and diverse flora and fauna.
The devastating impact of the wildfire was visible even from Kohima, the State capital of Nagaland, with ash reported from the far end of the city.
‘Recovery may take years’
Geographically located in Khonoma, we may come across as the owners, but Dzükou belongs to every Naga, maintained Pevi.
“We are very happy when people come to visit the pristine forest. We are not stopping anyone from enjoying the beauty of Dzükou; everyone is welcome, but there are also simple rules to follow when you visit,” he pointed out.
Stressing that years of conservation efforts had gone into preserving Dzükou’s biodiversity, he lamented that these had been undone by a single act of carelessness.
“I am sure it was not done intentionally, but the wildfire could have been avoided,” he reasoned, noting that once a fire starts, it cannot be stopped easily.
With the entire valley now consumed by fire, he regretted that “It will take several years for it to grow back to its original form,” while expressing hope that trekkers in the future will be more responsible and careful with the environment.
According to the Village Council, Khonoma Dzükou attracts around 300 visitors daily during peak season, with numbers occasionally reaching 400 in a single day.
Volunteers battle for third day
On Sunday morning, Rokozelhu Kuotsu, General Secretary of the Khonoma Youth Organisation, was among the first group of youths to head to Khonoma Dzükou around 7 am, taking about an hour to reach the site.
Generally, it takes about two hours for trekkers to reach the destination from the Base Camp.
He returned to the Camp by afternoon, carrying a dao, one of the tools the youths used, along with mud, to help douse the fire.
“As I can recollect, it has been about 20 years since the last wildfire at Khonoma Dzükou,” he said, recalling that he was a small boy at the time.
As a youth leader today, he was clearly distressed when the news first came from a tourist guide about the spreading wildfire.
“Everybody was alarmed; we were all concerned,” he told The Morung Express.
The youth body immediately sprang into action, joined by the students’ body and others.
Over the past three days, Kuotsu, like many other volunteers and officials, trekked to Khonoma Dzükou three times to help contain the fire.
“We are very tired, but there is no other option,” he said, visibly exhausted after trekking to the valley repeatedly over the past three days in addition to working on-site.
“We have conserved this beautiful valley for years, and the beauty, the rich flora and fauna, and everything is destroyed overnight,” he said, echoing the KVC’s sentiment.
With sustained efforts by the Khonoma Village community, volunteers, and the State government for the third consecutive day, smoke was now visible only in a few isolated areas that are inaccessible due to the difficult terrain.
While the fire had previously spread in multiple directions, it has largely halted to the west after reaching a certain point. However, in the southern direction, there remains a risk of the fire spreading to southern Dzükou, a youth observer noted.
