Seals at Cape Cross, Namibia - Joachim Huber
A USB flash drive recovered from frozen seal scat has been reunited with its owner, according to New Zealand`s National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA). The organization revealed its findings in a post early this week, when it stated that a functional USB drive with recoverable photos and at least one video had been found in thawed seal poo.
According to the NIWA, seal scat is `as good as gold` for researchers who study the creatures. Volunteers with LeopardSeals.org collect these samples and ship them to the researchers, who then freeze them until they`re ready to analyze the droppings.
In November 2017, the NIWA says marine biologist Dr. Krista Hupman received a sample collected by a local vet. The scat was placed in a freezer, only to be removed last month by volunteers with the organization. The sample was defrosted, rinsed, and then broken apart to study.
Amid the expected findings was one concerning discovery: a USB flash drive. After being left out to dry, the researchers connected the drive and were surprised to recover images of sea lions, as well as a video showing the tip of a blue kayak and a mother and baby sea lion in the water.
NIWA shared the video on its Twitter account on February 4 in an attempt to reunite the USB drive with its owner.
NIWA is searching for the owner of a USB stick found in the poo of a leopard seal... Recognise this video? Scientists analysing the scat of leopard seals have come across an unexpected discovery - a USB stick full of photos & still in working order! https://t.co/2SZVkm5az4 pic.twitter.com/JLEC8vuHH0
- NIWA (@niwa_nz) February 5, 2019
The amusing story went viral, and it only took a day for owner Amanda Nally to claim her property, according to The Project NZ. The hardy USB drive`s make and model remain unknown, but it`s safe to say regardless of official specs the flash drive was indeed weather `sealed.`
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