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Couple finds 32-pound hunk of ambergris worth over $300,000!

First they thought it was an old tree stump. Then they thought it was a cyst from a large marine animal. Eventually, they realized that they’d stumbled upon a 32-pound chunk of ambergris that could be worth in excess of $300,000! And they found it on a beach in western South Australia.

Ambergris is a rare substance produced in the intestines of sperm whales. Scientists believe it is produced in order to aid in passing hard, bony materials that a whale may have consumed, such as squid beaks. However, chunks of it are occasionally belched out and set afloat in the world’s oceans. The material has a sweet, earthy odor that was prized by perfume makers before synthetic replacements were created.

Here are a couple articles covering this recent find:

“Moby sick” find lands fragrant fortune
Wed Jan 25, 2006 9:52 AM ET

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - An Australian couple could reap a fragrant fortune after what they thought was an odd-looking tree stump turned out to be a rare lump of ambergris, a whale excretion used in perfumes and known as “floating gold.”

Loralee and Leon Wright were walking along a remote beach near Streaky Bay in western South Australia state on a fishing trip three weeks ago when they saw the strange object.

Intrigued, they took a closer look and Leon Wright, thinking it could have been some kind of cyst from a large marine animal, suggested they take the 32 pound lump home.

“She said ‘You’re not putting that thing in my car’,” the Australian Broadcasting Corp. quoted marine ecologist Ken Jury as saying on its Web site (www.abc.net.au) Wednesday.

Curiosity eventually got the better of the Wrights. Unable to find an answer on the Internet, they went back and got it two weeks later and described it to Jury.

“It immediately struck me as being ambergris — it couldn’t be anything else,” Jury said.

“It’s actually belched out by the animal, would you believe, and those few across the world that have witnessed that or heard it say it’s quite remarkable … apparently the sound of it travels for miles across the water,” he said.

Jury, who is acting for the family, said ambergris can fetch between $20-$65 a gram, The Age newspaper reported on Wednesday. That would make the Wrights’ find worth at least

$295,000.

Used in perfumes by ancient Egyptians and mythologized in literary classics like Herman Melville’s “Moby Dick,” ambergris is spewed out of the intestines of sperm whales.

Scientists theorize it is produced to aid in the removal of hard, sharp objects like squid beaks that whales may eat.

The waxy, foul-smelling substance is lighter than water and can float for years, during which time it is cleansed by the sun and salt water and becomes hard, dark and waxy and develops a rich musky smell prized by perfumers around the world.

“The Egyptians used it. Certainly the Chinese did and they not only used it in perfumes, but they used to eat it and they used to give it as gifts,” Jury said.

© Reuters 2006

This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 25th, 2006 at 10:20 am and is filed under Also of Interest, Whales in General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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18 Responses to “Couple finds 32-pound hunk of ambergris worth over $300,000!”

  1. vic Says:
    March 25th, 2006 at 8:42 am

    Hey, Can you get me the contact number of the couples, I am interested to buy the ambergris

  2. Jason Says:
    March 29th, 2006 at 12:05 am

    Hey I have some Ambergris but dont know where to sell it

  3. Shane Says:
    June 29th, 2006 at 7:02 pm

    Hi Guy’s

    I also think I have some Ambergris & would like to sell but don’t know where?

    Thanks

    Shane

  4. T.J. Says:
    August 7th, 2006 at 8:17 pm

    We are buyer of ambergris. Please contact us at sinthaico@hotmail.com.

  5. George Herming Says:
    August 13th, 2006 at 5:23 pm

    I have some ambergris too. Can you help me locate any interested buyer?

    Many thanks for your help.

    George

  6. Allasttair Says:
    November 9th, 2006 at 5:32 pm

    I got ambergris collected down in Solomon Islands, they are collected in size and two different types,
    seeking for best buyers and dealers.

  7. Roimata Christian Says:
    December 14th, 2006 at 1:36 pm

    I’ve ambergris and looking for a buyer.
    - 15-20 kg in mass
    - yellowish brown (kinda)
    - dimension approximate (12cm X 20 cm X 30 cm)
    - Location: Solomon Islands
    Contact: roimata_christian@yahoo.com

  8. Bigwig Says:
    December 21st, 2006 at 3:28 am

    How lucky they are! I wish I get $300k :)

  9. Ambergris expert Says:
    December 28th, 2006 at 4:07 am

    If you are in posession of ambergris, go check out this website http://www.ambergris.fr and it will tell you if your ambergris is real and they will buy from you. They travel all around the world and are very serious.

  10. priestina ben Says:
    January 29th, 2007 at 3:34 pm

    I’ve in possession of much ambergris but i don’t know who’s gonna buy them.

  11. Choi Woonsung Says:
    February 28th, 2007 at 8:42 pm

    Dear Sir ,

    I would like having the adress mail of the couples , because I want to know to whom they sold ambergris.

    Please, give me surely the reply.

    Thanks !

  12. Eric Wen Says:
    March 20th, 2007 at 12:16 am

    We are buyer and collect any kind of ambergris worldwide. If you are interested to sell ambergris, please contact us. No matter size and quantity.

    Eric Wen
    Chau-Yih Co., LTD.
    Tel: 886225919162
    Fax: 886225921737
    E-mail: 007eric@yahoo.com.tw

  13. Randy Fanegao Says:
    September 16th, 2007 at 9:24 pm

    I am from the Solomon Islands and I have some ambergris with me at the moment. I am looking for buyers who are interested.

  14. Mohamed Farook Says:
    November 6th, 2007 at 4:02 pm

    We are buyers of Ambergris from Singapore . Contact nishaintl@singnet.com.sg if you have genuine Ambergris .

    Best Regards
    Mohamed Farook
    Tel: +65-91014214
    Fax: +65-63380326

  15. Robinson Huia Says:
    January 3rd, 2008 at 9:35 pm

    Hye,

    I found one Ambergris and I wonder where to
    sell it.

    Robinson Huia

    Solomon Islander.

  16. Henning Beth Says:
    September 13th, 2008 at 6:30 pm

    Hellon all .
    I would like to buy some Ambergris!
    I live in Nothern NSW

  17. muh sinno Says:
    October 19th, 2008 at 3:17 am

    we are intersted to buy any quantity if price suitable please send for us pic and price to this email:asd_mhs@hotmail.com many thanks

  18. Rob Says:
    November 1st, 2008 at 6:57 am

    Hey Everyone who possess these ambergris. Contact me at
    rob_gee2@hotmail.com if u need to sell your ambergris.

    I travel quite a bit to Solomon Islands and I hve seen many a sample of people who claim to have the right stuff. After my inspection, it is found to be not the “Right One”
    This is because the islanders think that all ‘whale vomit’ is Ambergris but there is the right one and the wrong one. SO contact me and I will guide you and pay you the right price.

    Thnks
    Rob