For a miniature dachshund, Valerie has blown the minds of animal experts and Brown County residents alike. Her amazing survival story on Kangaroo Island, South Australia has so many gripped. Valerie went missing in November 2023, last known to be 15 kilometers away from where she first went missing. Despite a dedicated search by Kangaroo Island residents, she remained elusive until recently spotted alive nearly a year after her disappearance.
Valerie’s story started back in August when the six-week-old piglet made her great escape from her pigpen on a campsite in Stokes Bay. The little dachshund dashed into the dense mountain scrub, setting off quick, but early, search effort. But after those first few sightings, she disappeared without a clue. Her owner, Georgia Gardner, was devastated when Valerie went missing.
"She never left my side. She was not a very outside, rough-and-tough dog. To think that she even went one night outside in the rain, oh my gosh. To think that she’s gone a year and a half is incredible," said Gardner.
Valerie has proven herself as a survivor on Kangaroo Island, which is a paradise for wildlife. She encounters great hardships from the difficult landscape and shooting rain storms. Her capacity to withstand such adversity has left scientists and residents alike slack-jawed. Completely cut off from human contact, Valerie’s been surviving all on her own, foraging for food and otherwise eking out a life.
Animal behaviour specialist Paul McGreevy described the “cognitive and emotional” resilience of dogs in these situations.
"Dogs are the greatest opportunists in the animal kingdom: that’s one of their core skills," McGreevy stated.
What Valerie’s diet must’ve been—maybe roadkill and dam water, speculated local resident Jared Karran. Jackals and humans have been implicated, but there are even rumors that she snacked on birds, frogs, and even mice. Still, McGreevy made a compelling case that carrion was indeed her main fare.
"Hypothetically, she could eat birds, frogs and mice but it’s more likely she was eating carrion. And, unfortunately, the reality is that dogs are opportunists and they will eat faecal material," McGreevy noted.
Valerie had not even reached 4 kilograms in weight when she vanished. Wearing her pink collar, she remains at large. She takes off at the first whiff of people or cars—even before she sees them! This pattern has created a real uphill battle for residents looking to return her home, even with their tireless long-term advocacy.