At least 68 elephants – about 4% of the population of one of Africa’s oldest parks – have been slaughtered by poachers over the last two months using chainsaws and helicopters, the non-profit group managing the park has warned.

France favours a ban on the export of bluefin tuna – but wants an 18-month delay before the measure would be imposed, ecology minister Jean-Louis Borloo said today.

Wildlife conservationists are expected to push for new trade restrictions to protect fast-disappearing animals and plants, while lobbyists try to liberate trade in some species at international talks starting today in Bangkok, Thailand.