Botswana says it will ban hunting by 2014 because of fears that the nation is losing its wildlife.

The announcement comes after President Ian Khama said hunting must be stopped to save the nation's big game animals.

The government said that, left unchecked, rampant hunting would be a "genuine threat" to wildlife.

Hunts by local communities and with special hunting licences would still be allowed.

Botswana, a nation in southern Africa of 581,730 sq kms, is home to the massive Kalahari Desert and large national parks. It has elephants, lions, giraffes and many other wild animals, making it a popular destination for big game hunters.