BEIJING, April. 7 (Xinhuanet) -- A pet dog presumed dead after falling from her owners boat in rough seas off Australia in November has reportedly survived more than four months on a desert island.

    Sophie Tucker, unseen by her owners, managed to swim five nautical miles through stormy seas to St Bees Island, near the Great Barrier Reef, where she survived by hunting feral goats.

    The cattle dog captured last week has been returned to the Griffith family (her owners). They were convinced that the dog had drowned after she slipped into choppy waters in November.

    Sophie Tucker was thrown into the sea as Jan Griffith and her family sailed through waters off northeast Queensland. Unable to rescue her, the family was devastated after the incident.

    "We were amazed to find it was indeed Sophie inside the cage when we met the rangers' boat bringing the dog to the mainland. Sophie immediately recognized us," Ms Griffith said.

    She said, "we called the dog and she started whimpering and banging the cage … they (rangers) let her out and she just about flattened us. Sophie wriggled around like a mad thing."

    (Agencies)