But with surveys suggesting as few as 30 calling males may be left in the Snowy Mountains, the southern corroboree frog (Pseudophryne corroboree) like 50 per cent of the world's amphibians is well on the way to sliding over the brink of extinction.

More than 3000 of the world's amphibian species frogs, toads, salamanders and newts are at critical risk of extinction within the next few decades, with the survival of at least 50 of Australia's 216 frog and toad species under threat from habitat loss, pesticides, disease, water pollution and climate change.

A global coalition of scientists is hoping to raise $70million as the first step in an ambitious $458million five-year plan to establish captive breeding programs for the world's 500 most-threatened frog and toad species. They've declared 2008 the Year of the Frog and secured British zoologist Sir David Attenborough as the high-profile patron of their cause.

Called the Amphibian Ark, the project is coordinated by the World Conservation Union and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums. It aims to "rescue priority endangered species and place them in 'protective custody' in dedicated biosecure facilities at zoos, aquariums and other institutions around the world for safekeeping and breeding".

For several years, the Amphibian Research Centre in Werribee, Melbourne, has been running a captive breeding program for the critically endangered southern corroboree frog. Typical of most cash-strapped frog conservation efforts, it's chiefly funded by sales of books, frog ponds, common frog species for pets and an online mail-order service for frog food such as crickets, cockroaches and houseflies. The centre's founder, Gerry Marantelli, says he's organised school tours, lectures in local libraries and even pub chook raffles to keep the program afloat.

Despite Australia ranking among the world's top 10 nations for diversity of frog species, government funding for frog conservation remains well below $1million.

Amphibian Ark's project leader, United States herpetologist Kevin Zippel, describes the looming loss of up to 50 per cent of the world's frog species as "a modern-day extinction crisis" comparable to the mass extinction events that wiped out the dinosaurs.

"Amphibians have been around for over 360 million years, enduring at least three mass extinction events, including the one that eliminated the dinosaurs. But amphibian species are becoming extinct at a pace faster than anything we have experienced," he said.

Dr Zippel said anyone could help the global program raise funds for frog conservation, including "kids selling cookies" at school fund-raisers.

"I simply can't imagine passing on a world deprived of frogs," he said.

To join the global campaign, go to www.amphibianark.org