Miniature Dachshund Valerie Confirmed Alive After 16 Months in Kangaroo Island Wilderness

Rescue efforts intensify as recent sightings and surveillance narrow the search for the elusive dog near Stokes Bay.

Valerie, a miniature dachshund, has survived 16 months in the wild on Kangaroo Island after escaping during a camping trip in November 2023.
Recent video evidence and sightings, including a photograph, have confirmed her presence near the Stokes Bay area as of March 26, 2025.
Rescuers from Kangala Wildlife Rescue are using food lures, traps, and surveillance to capture Valerie, who remains skittish and avoids human contact.
Experts are amazed by Valerie's survival, attributing it to scavenging roadkill, drinking dam water, and evading predators like venomous snakes and birds of prey.
Her owners, Georgia Gardner and Josh Fishlock, are preparing to return to Kangaroo Island to assist in the ongoing rescue efforts and remain hopeful for her safe return.