Why Is ‘Whale Vomit’ So Valuable That It Sells for $50,000 per Kilogram?
Recently, an unusual occurrence occurred in the Gulf of Yemen, forever altering the lives of 35 impoverished Yemeni fishermen. They can now live a lucrative luxury lifestyle as a result of the finding of $1.5 million worth of sperm whale vomit, also known as ambergris.
However, Ambergis are not biologically equivalent to whale vomit; more on that later.
This occurrence is connected to a unique substance found in sperm whales on a very uncommon basis.
Around 35 fishermen discovered a sperm whale carcass near the Gulf of Aden on 1 June 2021. They found ambergris weight weighing around 280lb/127kg and valued at $1.5 million, in this whale carcass.
According to researchers, mankind has been utilizing ambergris for thousands of years. Isn’t that strange? A substance found in the carcass of a whale is valuable and worth millions of dollars. And you’re probably still wondering, what the heck is ambergris. Therefore, let us first comprehend this.
What is Ambergris?
Ambergris is a relatively uncommon digestive byproduct of the sperm whale. It is one of the most bizarre natural substances discovered on the planet. Ambergis is extremely rare, occurring in just 1–5% of the whole sperm whale population, and sperm whales are the sole producers of ambergris.
Ambergris is expensive and has been utilized for thousands of years due to its scarcity and applications in industry.
The first discovered ambergris fossils are 1.75 million years old, and experts believe humans have been utilizing ambergris for over 1000 years.
Ambergis is also referred to as ‘whale vomit’ or ‘whale poop’. However, experts believe that ambergris is not genuinely ‘whale vomit’ or ‘whale poop’.
So, What do we know about this substance up to this point? and what is the composition of this substance? and why are there divergent views among experts? Allow me to clarify.
How it is Formed?
Coleoidea, such as squids, octopus and cuttlefish, account for the major portion of the sperm whale diet. Whales, like ruminant animals, have four chambers in stomachs, and food is processed as it moves from one section of the stomach to the next. Due to the sperm whale’s lethargic and voracious eating habits, their stomachs become stuffed with an indigestible component of their prey’s body which later form a solid ball-like structure, and they vomit it out every few weeks. Generally, they expel it before digestion begins.
This vomit is not ambergris.
According to some experts, the vomit that sperm whales expelled every few weeks is not ambergris, as the process of ambergris formation is far more intricate.
According to a paper published by the University of Chicago Press, by Christopher Kemp, Kemp comprehends that ‘sperm whale vomit’ and ‘ambergris’ are two distinct substances. Sperm whales don’t vomit ambergris.
Occasionally, indigestible material reaches into the gastrointestinal tract as it passes through the stomach. Then, through a series of complex processes and chemicals such as triterpene alcohol compound, and others found exclusively in sperm whales, the indigestible material from the stomach transforms into ambergris.
However, it’s is worth mentioning that researchers hold divergent views on the formation of ambergris.
Some scientists do believe that whale vomit contains ambergris, which is why it is dubbed ‘whale vomit,’ however, this is not a widely held belief among researchers.
In this article, we will focus on the most popular and well-researched idea, which was published in the Natural History Museum (NHM) by Richard Sabin. Sabin is adamant that ambergris is created only in a whale’s intestine and is excreted via faecal matter.
Initially, humans believed that ambergris was simply hard sea foam, but when large-scale whaling began, they discovered sperm whales as the sole source of ambergris.
Whaling is the process of hunting whales for their flesh and blubber.
Uses/Application
This rare and historical substance has a variety of applications, but most notably in the perfume industry, where ambergris is crucial raw material.
Since prehistoric times, humans have used ambergris for a variety of purposes. While the ancient Greeks employed it to increase the intoxicating strength of wines, the odd chemical was also utilized to treat impotence in medieval times. In ancient Egypt, ambergris was used as incense; in modern Egypt, ambergris is used for fragrance cigarettes.
Even during the pandemic of the black death, people applied ambergris to their skin to ward off the plague. The Black Death was a bubonic plague that spread throughout Eurasia and North Africa between 1346–1353. It was the most lethal pandemic humanity had ever encountered.
Ambergris is a waxy, combustible material with a strong scent. A little bit of ambergris can retain its aroma for up to 300 years.
It’s difficult to describe the fragrance of ambergris, but those who have sniffed it report that freshly produced ambergris has a sea, faecal aroma. As it ages, it develops a pleasant, earthy aroma that is frequently compared to that of rubbing alcohol without the vaporous chemical astringency.
Ambergris is primarily utilized in eastern societies for medicinal purposes, potion, and spices, but it is primarily used in western societies for perfumes.
Ambergris’s high price is partly owing to its lingering aromatic scent. According to GQ magazine ambergris is the most valuable natural raw material in the perfume industry, due to its scarcity and high demand. Ambergris is mostly used to extend the life of the fragrance.
Although ambergris is a rare substance, it is still found on the coasts of Japan, China, Africa, and the American continent.
However, extracting ambergris from whales is illegal, which is why the perfume business utilizes an artificial alternative that is incomparable to actual ambergris. Natural ambergris is prohibitively expensive due to its scarcity.
Sperm Whale
Sperm whales are the largest toothed whales and you can easily distinguish them because of their enormous square heads.
Sperm whales are scientifically known as ‘physeter catodon’. It is the world’s largest toothed whale, having a massive square head. Sperm whales can dive to a depth of 350 meters and remain down for an hour.
The sperm whale has a global distribution and is found in both tropical and temperate waters. The sperm whale population has been reduced from 1.1 million to 0.3 million as a result of whaling. … approximately 1–5% of the sperm whale population produces ambergris.
Ambergris is precious for humans but dangerous for sperm whales. Poachers are still targeting sperm whales. But they target whales at a much lesser rate than in prior decades, thanks to the new laws.
The legality of trading Ambergris
In various parts of the world, distinct sets of rules govern the gathering and sale of ambergris. Everything is legal in a few places, whether it’s ambergris or any other whale product. However, in a significant percentage of the world, trading with ambergris is prohibited.
In the United Kingdom and Europe, all trading in living whale and dolphin products is prohibited. However, the ‘Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species’ classifies ambergris as a ‘Waste Material,’ which allows its collection from beaches as a legal activity.
Some scientists advocate for the increasing use of synthetic alternatives of ambergris which will discourage the exploitation of whales for resources.
I hope this post was worthwhile of your time, and I appreciate you taking the time to read it.
