Haridwar, Sept. 14 -- A major operation is underway to trace a wild bear who has terrorised Paithani forest range of Pauri Garhwal for the past few weeks. Forest department officials monitoring the operation said that the sloth bear has in the past few days alone killed 17 livestock, causing fear among villagers. A joint operation has been carried out since September 6 after wild bear attacks spiking sharply and the matter being brought to the notice of cabinet minister Dhan Singh Rawat and Pauri Garhwal district magistrate Swati S Bhadauriya. District administration and forest department is conducting a joint operation round the clock to trace the said bear. Under divisional forest officer (Civil) Pawan Negi, four teams comprising 17 experts have been deployed to trace, trap and even kill the bear as a last resort. "The 17 member team comprises 2 doctors, 2 tranquilising snipers, senior wildlife experts. Along with this, a drone camera and 10 trap-cameras are also being used to monitor the movement and location of the bear. Also iron-cages have also been installed at various sites," said Negi. Locals are also being sensitied and several youth volunteers from the affected villages are also cooperating with the joint-teams. "We are also monitoring around 600 cow-shelters in the range area as said bear has been constantly targeting cows, goats and sheep," said SDO, Pauri, Ayesha Bisht....