It might look incongruous to see a koala scaling the Brooklyn Bridge or catching a packed tube on the London Underground, but these stuffed animals popping up around the world have a special message for those who encounter them.

Key points: As much as 30 per cent of koala habitat has been destroyed in Australia's bushfires

As much as 30 per cent of koala habitat has been destroyed in Australia's bushfires The Koalas of NYC campaign has affixed koalas to spots in New York and London

The Koalas of NYC campaign has affixed koalas to spots in New York and London The campaign invites people who encounter them to donate to WIRES for bushfire relief

Koalas of NYC — a nod to the popular Humans of New York photography page — has been placing plush koalas around New York City and London to raise money for wildlife rehabilitation in the wake of Australia's bushfire crisis.

"1 billion of the world's unique wildlife has died in the Australian bushfires," a yellow tag affixed to each toy koala's foot reads.

A scannable code overleaf links the reader to a GoFundMe account where they can donate to WIRES, the largest wildlife rescue and rehabilitation charity in Australia.

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Almost $US15,000 ($22,000) has currently been raised and the campaign, which initially started in NYC, expanded to London on Saturday.

On their GoFundme page, the organisers said they chose the two cities because they are "home to so many Australians who want to do everything they can from far away to help save their beloved country and its beautiful and endangered wildlife from the Australian bushfires that are sweeping the continent."

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In an interview with PIX11 Morning News in New York, organiser Rachel Mitrani, an American who works at an Australia-based advertising agency in NYC, said Australia had a "really close place in [her] heart".

"We just knew we had to connect what's going on with the bushfires in Australia to New York City, raise awareness here, so people are aware of what's going on and they can help," she said.

Readers can scan a QR code to be linked to a GoFundMe account where they can donate to WIRES. ( Instagram: Koalas of NYC )

Fundraising target already eclipsed

Their initial target was $US10,000, but after that was surpassed in less than a week, the goal has been adjusted to $US15,000.

In New York City, the campaign's furry mascots have been spotted in Times Square, affixed to subway entrances, in the arms of an NYPD officer, and even paying a visit to a New York Fire Department station.

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Two Australians featured on the campaign's Instagram are pictured next to a stuffed koala on the High Line Bridge in Manhattan.

"It's also really wholesome and comforting to know that people all around the world know what's going on and hopefully that means we can raise more money for relief for victims of the bushfires," a woman said.

Even the NYPD is getting involved. ( Instagram: Koalas of NYC )

In London, the plush toys have also been spotted catching a tube at Piccadilly Circus, catching up on royal happenings outside Buckingham Palace, and making a quick long-distance call back home inside a red phone booth.

Koala populations have been decimated in the bushfires, with as much as 30 per cent of koala habitat destroyed.

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A naturally dense pelt and a tendency to climb upwards when threatened have disadvantaged the koala population, as bushfires were recorded travelling as fast as 60 kilometres an hour.

An initial $50 million emergency fund has been pledged to address the devastating loss of wildlife, with koalas a key focus of restoration efforts.

Research prior to this season's bushfire crisis indicated koalas were on track to be extinct by 2050 in New South Wales if land clearing rates continue.