He became a millionaire after finding whale vomit worth thousands of dollars

A Thai fisherman made a life-changing discovery. Found ambergris, whale vomit which can sell for thousands of dollars. The man, identified as Narong Pthetcharaj, made the discovery at the local Niyom beach. The man saw a strange object floating in the sea and says he decided to get closer to find out what it was.

“I felt so happy. Wonderful feelings I can’t describe. Thank God for that,” she said. “If you find whale amber, it is a treasure.”

“It was whale vomit” He assured and said that after a while it turned amber. Furthermore, he added that he had brought the waxy consistency to his home with the aim of asking the experts for an analysis.

The product is highly appreciated because it is used in the manufacture of perfumes, since each kilo of mixture is worth 48 thousand dollars. The substance found by the fisherman weighs 30 kilos, that is, the whole thing You could win up to more than $1 million.

Phetcharaj stated that “none of the villagers had ever seen or touched real whale ambergris before, so everyone was happy.”

“I’m so excited I don’t know what to do. I intend to sell the ambergris because I have already received the certificate certifying its authenticity. “If I can get a good price, I will stop working as a fisherman and throw a party for my friends,” he said.

Ambergris is automatically generated in the intestines of some sperm whales. According to experts consulted by the BBC, only between 1 and 5% of whales produce ambergris.

What is ambergris

For centuries, ambergris has been considered a luxury product. Anciently used in religious ceremonies, as an aphrodisiac in the Middle East, as a delicatessen in China or as an ingredient in traditional medicine potions, today this substance is used above all in the perfume industry.

Its exorbitant value, explains Christopher Kemp, author of the book “Floating Gold: A Natural (and Unnatural) History of Ambergris”, to BBC Mundo, is due to a series of factors.

“It is rare, has very unusual properties – such as stabilizing fragrances – and is impossible to produce in a laboratory.” It’s true that they created similar artificial versions, Kemp acknowledges, but they differ significantly from the original.

Sperm whales normally feed almost exclusively on squid. In one day they can ingest up to a ton. The hard parts of these molluscs, which they cannot digest, are regurgitated through the mouth. But in some cases, these pieces continue their journey through the digestive system and irritate the stomach and small intestine.

The intestine produces a fatty secretion rich in cholesterol to coat these pieces and cushion the damage they cause inside the animal.

The sperm whale then excretes this substance and it is what is called ambergris, although it is also possible that the specimen dies from indigestion and when its body decomposes or explodes, these secretions remain floating in the sea.