2023-07-09 19:26:00
This chunk is worth its weight in gold: After a scientist examined the carcass of a dead sperm whale on the Canary Island of La Palma, they made an incredible find – and want to do good with it.
According to “Spiegel” reports, the research team at the University of Las Palmas Gran Canaria suspected digestive problems as the cause of the whale’s death – and found a stone weighing over nine kilos in its intestines. The stone contains the valuable raw material ambergris. What initially only looks like a brown, unpleasant-smelling lump is actually a real treasure: the nine kilos of ambergris are worth around 500,000 euros.
Whale excrement is a valuable raw material in perfume production
Because: After a short time, the stench of the stone turns into a fragrant scent, which makes ambergris a valuable and rare substance in perfume production. How exactly it arises is still unclear. However, it is suspected that it forms during the digestion of squid and octopus. Ambergris only reaches the outside world through vomiting or excretions of the whale in the sea. However, if the stones become too large, they can, as in this case, lead to the death of the animal.
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The research team is now hoping for high proceeds for the Ambergris – the money should benefit the victims of the volcanic eruption in 2021 on La Palma. (mwi)
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