‘Whale Vomit’ worth Rs 10 Crore seized in UP: What makes Ambergris so valuable?
Ambergris or "whale vomit" is one of the most strangely occurring valuable natural substances and is banned under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.
The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force on Wednesday arrested 4 members of a gang that was smuggling 4.12 kg of Ambergris (whale vomit) worth Rs 10 crores in Lucknow. The arrested have been identified as Feroz, Avinash, Danish and Abhay.
The term Ambergris is derived from the Old French word Amber and ‘gris’ and it translates to grey amber. It is a waxy, solid, combustible substance produced in the digestive system of sperm whales.
It is one of the most strangely occurring valuable natural substances and is banned under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 at the international level. However, smugglers are known to have illegally targeted the fish in order to obtain the valuable Ambergris from its stomach.
According to the Natural History Museum (NHM), “There are conflicting opinions about how ambergris emerges from the whale. Some believe that the whale regurgitates the mass, earning it its well-known nickname ‘whale vomit’.” While some state that the whale secretes the mass, others believe that the substance grows so large that it eventually “fatally ruptures the whale’s rectum”. This is counted among the strangest natural phenomena and why the substance is found floating in the sea is still a matter of discussion among experts.
What makes Ambergris subject to exploitation and smuggling is its rarity and high value in the cosmetics and medications industry, especially for perfumes owing to its coveted scent. Since ancient times, Ambergris has been used in fragrances and high-end perfumes, as well as in various traditional medicines, which is why it is sold at a very high price.
It was used by the Egyptians as incense, and while Chinese called it “dragon’s spittle scent.” It is also highly in demand in countries such as Dubai, which has a large perfume market.
As per an estimate by the Mumbai Police, 1 kg of Ambergris is worth Rs 1 crore. This is why this excrement is rightly referred to as “floating gold.”
This is not the first time that Ambergris, “whale vomit”, “grey amber”, or “floating gold” as it is commonly called is being smuggled and stolen in India. Earlier in June of 2021, the Mumbai Police seized nearly nine kg of Ambergris in two separate cases — in the first, 2.2 kg was seized from three men in Mumbai’s Mulund area and in the second, two arrests were made and authorities found 7.7 kg of the valuable item.
In July 2021, the forest department of Kerala seized ambergris worth around Rs 30 crore from Chettuva in Thrissur district and arrested 3 accused.
In July this year, a group of fishermen in Kerala reportedly discovered whale vomit worth Rs 28 crore and turned it over to local authorities. They received praise from everyone after the news went viral.
