Context

In the past few weeks, the Mumbai Police has arrested five persons trying to sell Ambergris or whale vomit.

About

What is Ambergris?

• Ambergris is generally referred to as whale vomit.
• It is a solid waxy substance that floats around the surface of the water body and at times settles on the coast.
• A sperm whale eats several thousand squid beaks a day.
  • Occasionally, a beak makes its way to the whale’s stomach and into its looping convoluted intestines where it becomes ambergris through a complex process, and may ultimately be excreted by the whale.

How valuable is this whale vomit?

• This excretion is so valuable it is referred to as floating gold.
• As per the latest estimates, 1 kg of ambergris is worth Rs 1 crore in the international market.
• The reason for its high cost is its use in the perfume market, especially to create fragrances like musk.
• It is also believed to be used in some traditional medicines.

Laws on Ambergris

• Due to its high value, Ambergris has been a target for smugglers, especially in coastal areas.
• Since the sperm whale is a protected species, hunting the whale is not allowed.
• However, smugglers are known to have illegally targeted the fish to obtain the valuable Ambergris from its stomach.