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The Vomit Worth Millions?

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the just-plain-gross dept.

ozmanjusri writes "ABC is reporting that a family in Australia recently found a large lump of ambergris, which they believe may be worth millions. It is a fascinating material, created by a sperm whale's intestine in response to irritation, probably caused by the undigested beaks of squid. The waxy mass is coughed out by the whale during a belch which is reported to be audible kilometers away, and is a putrid stinking mass. Floating in salt water and exposure to sunlight for ten years or more matures the waxy blob into a grey, sweet smelling solid which is used as a base for perfumes. Although the family may be able to sell the ambergris, it cannot be used in Australia or the US, since both countries are signatories to the Washington Treaty, which bans the trade of musk deer and whale products for perfume."

4 of 101 comments (clear)

  1. Can't they just eBay it? by Zog+The+Undeniable · · Score: 2, Insightful
    The law in this case does seem to be a bit of an ass. Selling ambergris doesn't hurt the whale any more than it hurt Shatner to sell his kidney stone (although presumably it was a little unpleasant for him at the time said stone actually came out, ouch).

    You can't catch and kill a whale to extract ambergris, because the stuff has to weather naturally for years, so it should be obvious it was just a lucky find.

    Incidentally, the captcha for making this post was "inerited". WTF?

    --
    When I am king, you will be first against the wall.
  2. Re:Unfortunately... by Feanturi · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I'm not arguing with you, but rather the lawmakers that would have it so: It's stupid because it's a waste product from the whale, that has to float around in the ocean for a decade before becoming what it is. I can't see how the interest in such a product is of any harm to whales, it's not something you need to kill them for.

  3. RTFA by Potor · · Score: 2, Insightful
    I don't think their target is fellow Australians. According to tfa, the last one found was sold abroad:
    "I do know that the most recent find in Queensland ... attracted a gentleman from Indonesia who bought it ... so who knows?"
  4. What exactly... by Eivind · · Score: 3, Insightful

    What exactly is the sense of forbidding trade in a product with whale-origin that in no way influences the whale if used ? I mean, it's literally ten year old vomit from the whales POV. It's not like any whale will in any way be negatively influenced by the harvesting (i.e. picking up from beach) and selling of this item.