Valerie the sausage dog steps into Kangala Wildlife Rescue trap on Kangaroo Island

New footage has revealed the team hunting an elusive dachshund on Kangaroo Island are as close as they’ve ever been to catching her after 16 months on the run.

The net is closing in on South Australia’s most elusive sausage dog, with new footage showing a turning point in the mission to bring her home.

After more than 500 days missing in the wilds of Kangaroo Island, Valerie the miniature dachshund is now regularly visiting a custom-built trap set by the Kangala Wildlife Rescue team – and even entering it.

A video shared on Tuesday by the group shows Valerie sniffing, exploring, and making herself comfortable inside what rescuers have dubbed her “own little room” – complete with “her toys, bed from home, mum’s clothing, hidden food and challenges to keep her entertained”.

Valerie the dachshund has been sighted again at a trap site on a regular basis on Kangaroo Island by Kangala Wildlife Rescue. Picture: Facebook

The team has been looking for her since November 2023 Picture: Facebook

The rescue team said Valerie, who escaped from her playpen near Stokes Bay in November 2023, is becoming “increasingly confident” and appears to be remembering “familiar smells, tastes and sounds”.

“We’ve seen an amazing change in Valerie’s demeanour,” Kangala Wildlife Rescue wrote in a post.

“Even if she disappears for 5 or 6 days, we now know she will return.”

The team has ruled out traditional trapping methods due to the “abundance of wildlife and Valerie’s constantly changing schedule”.

Instead, they’ve spent weeks developing a remote-trigger system that works via the mobile network – allowing them to safely shut the trap from a distance when Valerie is fully inside.

The final component for the remote system is “due to arrive this week”.

It’s been a long road for owners Georgia Gardner and Josh Fishlock, whose beloved pup bolted during a brief fishing trip in late 2023.

Since then, Valerie’s journey has captured hearts across the globe, with supporters from the US to the UK cheering her on and donating to the cause.

The Kangala Wildlife Rescue team has welcomed media use of the new footage with credit to Kangala Wildlife Rescue, and continues to encourage donations via www.kangalawildliferescue.com to support both Valerie’s rescue and other wildlife efforts.

Originally published as Valerie the sausage dog steps into Kangala Wildlife Rescue trap on Kangaroo Island