Elizabeth Donald, Frog Princess

2008 - a leap year - has been declared by the United Nations as International Year of the Frog. But the Southern Corroboree Frog, Australia's most endangered and most spectacular frog, can't jump.

Beauty leaps to the rescue of the frog that can't jump

+ 54 kb Elizabeth Donald, frog princess

"Around the world all kinds of events are being held to save frogs. In Europe they are having a princess kiss a frog but in Australia princesses are rarer than Corroboree Frogs!" says Gerry Marantelli, Manager of the Amphibian Research Centre, the world's largest frog conservation centre. "There are less than 150 wild Corroboree Frogs left and without a huge leap in funds we just won't be able to save them."

That's where Miss Communications Victoria and Miss World Australia Finalist Elizabeth Donald comes in. She has just become an official ambassador for the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service Project Corroboree - a program aimed to raise funds and save the Corroboree Frog. Elizabeth loves frogs and if she is crowned Miss World Australia on April 9th, the Corroboree Frog may just get what it needs - a kiss from Australia's nearest thing to a real-life princess.

"I have always loved frogs and the environment", says Elizabeth. "I caught tadpoles and frogs as a child but never realised that this was an experience future generations may not have. It's so important to focus on frogs now. The intimate connection they share with water, drought, and climate change really helps people see the actual effects of these massive environmental issues."

"I'm so thrilled to be named as an Ambassador for Project Corroboree and am looking forward to doing all I can to help these magnificent creatures. Our Miss World motto is 'beauty with a purpose' and I hope to use my work to help make everyone aware of how they can help frogs during International Year of The Frog", Elizabeth says. "Kiss a frog - of course I will! Maybe I'll turn into a frog princess."

+ 70 kb The male Southern Corroboree Frog (Pseudophryne corroboree) guards the eggs in the nest.

On a serious note: frogs are undergoing the most significant extinction since the loss of the dinosaurs. Between 30 and 50 percent of all the world's amphibians are now threatened with extinction, with hundreds of species of frogs that have gone extinct in the last few decades. "Frogs have a voracious appetite and control crop pests and disease-carrying insects", says Marantelli. "Tadpoles have a huge role in cleaning water and are one of the most important food sources for waterbirds and fish. Losing our frogs will have a lasting impact on our water and quality of life."

• Visit Elizabeth's website