A woman in Thailand stumbled across a £185,000 worth of whale vomit near her beach house. 49 year-old Siriporn Niamrin was walking along the beach after a rainstorm when she noticed the large lump washed up on the shore in Nakhon Si Thammarat province.
She noticed the subsctance smelled of fish and thought it could be worth some money. She was right. Her neighbors told her that this was whale vomit, known as ambergris. It is from sperm whales.
When bile ducts in the gastrointestinal tract make secretions to ease the passage of large or sharp objects. After the whale vomits the mucilage, it solidifies in the cold water and floats. The chunk has a foul smell at first but once it dries out, it develops a sweet, long-lasting fragrance. It is used in the perfume industry.
According to Daily Mail, at 12 inches wide and 24 inches long and weighing around 15lb, the ambergris has an estimated value of £186,500. Siriporn and her neighbors held a naked flame up to the mass causing it to melt and harden again after cooling. This is to verify its authenticity.
She is currently waiting for expert verification on the rare find. She said: “I feel lucky to have found such a large piece. I hope it will bring me money. I’m keeping it safe in my house and I have asked the local council to visit to check it.”
With currents flowing in from the South China Sea, Nakhon Si Thammarat, has a history of the whale vomit washing up on its shores.
Source: Daily Mail, The Sun