(CNN) A USB thumb drive has been found inside frozen leopard seal feces by marine researchers in New Zealand -- and it still works.

The stool sample, known as scat, was about the size of two bread rolls and had been kept in a freezer at the New Zealand National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) for over a year.

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

When volunteer Jodie Warren sifted through the thawed out sample several weeks ago to "get all the gross stuff out" she wasn't expecting to find an electronic device.

"It is very worrying that these amazing Antarctic animals have plastic like this inside them," Warren said in a statement.

Leopard seal feces is vital for scientists who can glean information about what the Antarctic predators eat, their general health and how long the animals may have been in New Zealand waters from the samples.

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