Elephants stampede Indian air bases

The Indian Air Force says its operations are being hampered by herds of wild elephants.

A senior air force officer told Reuters news agency that they've been breaking into airbases in the north-eastern state of Assam, lumbering across runways, and endangering life and equipment.

Officials say elephant numbers have grown -- because of wildlife protection laws -- while their natural habitat has shrunk, due to deforestation.

The Air Force now plans to control the problem by clearing land adjacent to its bases.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service