An iconic Australian animal has today been declared endangered in many parts of the country.

Koala numbers in Queensland, New South Wales and the ACT have plummeted, with the animal now declared endangered in those areas.

In Victoria and South Australia, however, populations of koalas are not considered endangered.

Senior Campaign Manager for Humane Society International in Australia, Alexia Wellbelove, says the bushfires have been a “catalyst” for declining populations.

“Koalas, they were listed as vulnerable in those states back in 2012 and we’ve just seen so much land clearing in those states that their numbers continue to decline,” she told Ross and Russel.

“Climate change, disease, but also the bushfires also took more of their habitat and their numbers are just plummeting.

“Their numbers have declined by about 30 per cent which means they’ve qualified as endangered.”

Press PLAY below to hear more about the problems facing koala populations