Poachers in Congo slaughter 14 elephants

Poachers have slaughtered 14 elephants in Congo's Virunga National Park amid soaring demand for ivory in China.

Elephants killed by spear attacks in Kenya

Chinese demand for ivory driving illegal trade

Gorillas boost from joint conservation plan

The killings, reported to have taken place in the last two weeks, come as the United Nations faces allegations that elements with its peacekeeping force in the central African country may have traded guns for ivory with rebel fighters.

The ivory trade has been banned since 1989, but that has not stopped poachers from harvesting elephant tusks for sale, especially to China, Japan and Thailand. The elephant population has plummeted from 3,500 in 1959 to 350 today.