What makes ‘Whale Vomit’ - Ambergris, found on a Spanish beach, the ‘floating gold’?

A dead sperm whale washed up on the beach of Las Palmas, Canary Islands, Spain, near Africa. Initially, scientists and locals couldn’t identify the potential amount they were looking at at first glance.

After examination, it was revealed that the dead sperm whale was carrying ‘floating gold', which is ambergris, inside its intestines. The scientist who examined the whale thoroughly stated in a report that after inspecting the whale’s digestive system, some hindrance was observed, which made him examine its rectum, where he found Ambergris worth $5.4 m (₹4.4 cr) and weighing nearly 9.5 kg stuck. The amount was later donated to the victims of the 2021 La Palma volcano eruption tragedy.

What is Ambergris? Why is it found inside sperm whales?

Ambergris is a substance formed inside the stomach of sperm whales that helps them digest their food through their intestines. Ambergris forms a protective layer around the indigestible parts that the whale consumes, like the pointed beaks of squid or cuttlefish.

Generally, the whale disperses the indigestible food as it is, but rarely all of it blends and moves into the intestine. This blended mass slowly turns into ambergris, which grows inside the whale and is later expelled out into the ocean. It is believed by some that the whale regurgitates this mass, which earns it this name: Whale Vomit.

What makes ‘whale vomit’ so precious?

Ambergris, viz., whale vomit, has a much higher demand than its supply. Firstly, such a phenomenon seldom occurs in sperm whales, and it is said that only one out of 100 sperm whales produces Ambergris. Secondly, the Ambrein present on the walls of this rock-like sack creates fragrant substances that are lighter, and more volatile, and make the odour last much longer when instilled in a perfume.

It is found in white, grey, and black variants, which range from the strongest to the mildest fragrances. According to estimates, 1 kg of whale vomit is priced at ₹1 cr in the international market. The sale of Ambergris is prohibited in India as sperm whales are protected as an endangered species, and it being legal would prompt acts of whale hunting.

However, scientists have claimed that the extraction of Ambergris causes no harm as it is an excretory part that floats on the water itself.

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