Rare Ambergris Found in Sperm Whale Carcass: Valued at $550,000

Jakarta –

Large chunks of ‘floating gold’, found in the stomach sperm whale dead washed up on the island of La Palma, Spain. Floating gold is the nickname for the so-called extremely valuable substance ambergris.

Ambergis is a waxy substance secreted by sperm whales when they ingest indigestible food, such as squid beaks. Ambergris is used to make perfume and can be sold for thousands of dollars a pound.

The piece, which was found in the Canary Islands, is estimated to weigh around 9.5 kilograms and cost around USD 550,000 or more than IDR 7 billion.

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Antonio Fernandez Rodríguez, a veterinary researcher at the University of Las Palmas, reached inside a washed whale carcass to find out how it died. Well, he found something stuck in the whale’s gut.

quoted detikINET from Live Science, the ambergris appears to have ripped open the whale’s intestines, causing it to die and wash it on the beach. Only 1% to 5% of sperm whales are found with ambergris, a secretion of the bile ducts that is believed to coat the indigestible matter it eats.

Usually the whale regurgitates the object, but when not, the ambergris helps protect the whale’s organs from the sharp material. This rare substance was used in perfume making for hundreds of years because it helps the scent stick to one’s skin. Synthetic alternatives have been found, but some companies still use them in certain fragrances.

Sperm whales are one of the most sought-after species in whaling history, and overhunting is driving their populations down. While the global sperm whale population appears to have stabilized since the decline in whaling in the late 20th century, the species is still considered vulnerable.

Sperm whales are given the highest level of protection under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. But because ambergris is considered a product of animal waste, it is not covered by treaties and is legal for sale in many countries.

In the European Union, which includes the Canary Islands, trade in ambergris is legal. Rodríguez hopes to sell the ambergris and use the proceeds to support the victims of the 2021 volcanic eruption in La Palmas.

Watch Video “Again Sperm Whale Found Stranded on Bali Beach”
[Gambas:Video 20detik]

(fyk/fyk)

2023-07-20 15:00:12
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