Every week, we hear about newly endangered species. One of the most recent is the iconic koala.

The Australian government recently issued an endangered status to koalas based on their drastic drop in numbers, primarily from habitat loss — both from humans clearing the land and raging wildfires destroying trees. More than three-quarters of Australia’s koala habitat has been destroyed, including eucalyptus forests that provide their main source of food. To make matters worse, a bacterial infection called chlamydiosis is running rampant among these animals.

The koala’s shocking drop in status from no listing at all to endangered occurred over just 10 years. Now, government agencies are scrambling to develop a recovery plan before it’s too late.