| Abstract: |
Human–wildlife conflict (HWC) is an increasingly pressing concern along the forest–farmland interface of the Terai region, where dense protected areas adjoin densely settled agrarian communities. While the ecological and economic dimensions of crop raiding and livestock loss are widely documented, the gendered distribution of conflict exposure has received comparatively little attention. This paper examines the specific roles played by women in two everyday, conflict-prone activities—night-time crop protection and the collection of water, fuelwood and fodder—and argues that the prevailing socio-cultural division of labour systematically channels women into the spatial and temporal zones where encounters with wild animals are most likely. Drawing on a synthesis of secondary literature, regional conflict records and field observation in the Balrampur–Suhelwa landscape of the Indo-Nepal Terai, the study develops a conceptual framework of gendered exposure pathways and presents an indicative, multidimensional profile of the burdens women bear. The findings indicate that women are disproportionately responsible for water and fuelwood collection (about four-fifths of household effort) and contribute substantially to crop vigils, yet are markedly under-represented in conflict reporting and compensation processes. Beyond physical injury, women face acute time poverty, restricted mobility, psychological stress and hidden economic costs that conventional damage assessments overlook. The paper concludes that gender-responsive mitigation safer water access, lighting and escort arrangements, inclusive compensation, and the participation of women in conflict-management institutions is essential for any equitable and durable approach to human–wildlife coexistence in the Terai. |
