Sperm whale vomit sells for $3 million in Oman

Three Omani fishermen discovered sperm whale vomit, also known as ambergris, weighing 80 kg, worth up to three million USD.

Whale vomit from a group of Omani fishermen fetched $3 million. Photo: YouTube.

Fisherman Khalid Al Sinani and two friends found the rare sperm whale vomit off the coast of Qurayat, Oman, the Times of Oman reported on November 2. They saw the 80kg lump of ambergris floating in the sea and used ropes to pull the object to shore. "After we were sure it was ambergris, we started cutting it up to dry and resell it," Al Sinani said.

Ambergris is a secretion from the sperm whale's intestines that helps soften any hard or sharp objects it swallows. When the sperm whale vomits, the ambergris hardens as it floats on the water's surface and washes ashore. Dubbed "floating gold" because of its high economic value, ambergris is an important ingredient in the production of high-end perfumes, helping the scent last longer on the skin.

A Saudi Arabian businessman has offered to buy the ambergris from the fishermen for $2.8 million, but an auction will be held to determine the final price.

According to VNE