Scientists track down the owner of the still-working seal faeces USB stick

The NIWA have confirmed that the USB stick belongs to Amanda Nally - who suggested the faeces should be sent away to be analysed

The NIWA have confirmed that the USB stick belongs to Amanda Nally - who suggested the faeces should be sent away to be analysed

The owner of a USB stick which was found in a sick seal's faeces has been identified - as the woman who reported the frail animal to authorities in the first place.

It follows a nationwide search for the owner of the memory stick, revealed to be a seal enthusiast named Amanda Nally, after finding that it still worked. 

Ms Nally spotted the leopard seal looking thin and perhaps ill near a slab of its faeces on Oreti beach in New Zealand while volunteering in December 2017.

A vet was dispatched to examine the rare animal, which is usually found in the Antarctic and spend most of their lives submerged.

When the vet arrived, Ms Nally suggested that the sample be sent for analysis because it holds valuable information about their general health.

That same day she posted a picture of the frail seal on her Instagram account with the caption: Today #leopardseal #hungry #summervisitor #oretibeach #vetchecked.

The seal was deemed in reasonable health and his faecal matter was sent to the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA). 

Last week, the facility reported that they had found the functioning USB stick while studying the frozen sample one year later. 

 That same day she posted a picture of the frail seal on her Instagram account with the caption: Today #leopardseal #hungry #summervisitor #oretibeach #vetchecked

 That same day she posted a picture of the frail seal on her Instagram account with the caption: Today #leopardseal #hungry #summervisitor #oretibeach #vetchecked

The seal was deemed in reasonable health and his faecal matter was sent to the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA). Last week, the facility reported that they had found the functioning USB stick while studying the frozen sample one year later

The seal was deemed in reasonable health and his faecal matter was sent to the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA). Last week, the facility reported that they had found the functioning USB stick while studying the frozen sample one year later

The organisation appealed for the owner of the USB to contact them, broadcasting holiday pictures and footage of two sea lions pups that were saved in it.

Ms Nally was watching the nightly news when she immediately recognised the clips as ones she had taken and realised that the stick was hers.

'This is probably the weirdest set of coincidences in my life – ever,' Ms Nally said. 

The NIWA tweeted that the owner of the memory stick, which Ms Nally thought had been lost, had been located.  

It is not known whether the USB stick eaten by the seal caused it to become ill.

According to an NIWA statement announcing the find last week, a 'skinny' leopard seal was seen on the beach and a scat sample was collected and sent it to NIWA marine biologist Dr Krista Hupman. 

The owner of a USB stick which was found in a sick seal's faeces has been identified - as the woman who reported the frail animal to authorities in the first place. Amanda Nally was watching the news when footage she had filmed from her memory stick was broadcast

The owner of a USB stick which was found in a sick seal's faeces has been identified - as the woman who reported the frail animal to authorities in the first place. Amanda Nally was watching the news when footage she had filmed

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