Eighteen years after its establishment, the government has finally set up the office of Kanchanjunga Conservation Area (KCA) in Taplejung district.

The government has also appointed chief conservation officer, two rangers and one non-gazetted officer for the office. A budget of Rs 3.5 million has been allocated to the office.

WWF Nepal has been working as a core partner of KCA in various projects with the participation of local communities. In 2006, KCA became the first community-owned conservation area after its management was handed over to the Kanchanjunga Conservation Area Management Council.

The WWF, however, terminated the project in Kanchanjunga in 2015, though it continued to provide fund through the Council, which made the government’s role more prominent in Kanchanjunga area.

“We will strengthen our efforts in monitoring and implementing programmes for effective management of the protected area” said Hem Raj Acharya, chief conservation officer of KCA.

Meanwhile the KCA will be conducting snow leopard study in Olangchunggola village from next month.

The two-month long study will be carried out from mid-March till mid-May to update the status of snow leopards in the region.

According to Acharya, satellite collaring on snow leopard will also be done. About 29 snow leopards are said to be living inside the KCA.