Scientists were left stunned to find a working USB stick inside a block of seal poo despite it having been eaten, digested and then frozen for a year.
Researchers at New Zealand’s National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research made the bizarre discovery while analysing the leopard seal faeces.
They are now hoping to return the stick to its owner, who lost the stick around November 2017.
The poo, known as scat, was collected by a vet in Oreti Beach, Invercargill, over a year ago, but was kept in storage until three weeks ago.
Volunteers Jodie Warren and Melanie Magnan, who work in NIWA’s lab, were analysing the sample when they spotted the stick.
Ms Warren said: “We basically have to sift it. You put it under the cold tap, get all the gross stuff off, smoosh it around a bit and separate the bones, feathers, seaweed and other stuff.”
It was during this process that they discovered the large plastic object.
Ms Warren added: “It is very worrying that these amazing Antarctic animals have plastic like this inside them.”
The pair left the stick to dry before looking to see what was on it.
They found photos of sea lions at Porpoise Bay in the Caitlins and a video of a mum and baby sealion frolicking in the shallows.
The only clue to who might have taken them is the nose of a blue kayak.
In return for the stick, the researchers are asking for more scat samples, which are “as good as gold” for leopard seal researchers.
Ms Warren said: “The more we can find out about these creatures, the more we can ensure they are looked after.”
