Garbage Collector Finds Smelly Mass that Could Be Whale Vomit Worth Over $100,000

[Wally Dorian Raffles]

You have to wonder how he could recognise such a thing - but he used to be a fisherman, so mabye it`s something he and his mates used to talk about `Wouldn`t it be great to find a chunk of stinky whale spew to fix all our problems` ....... I hope it turns out to be the real deal for him. It would be a nice feel good story....albiet, on the nose..
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The large chunk could be ambergris, sperm whale vomit that eventually develops into a sweet-smelling substance used in perfumes
By Georgia Slater November 14, 2019 01:30 PM


As the saying goes — one man’s trash is another man’s treasure!
When Thailand garbage collector, Somsak Boonrith, discovered an odd-looking piece of trash, he quickly realized that it could be much more valuable than it appeared.
On Sunday, Boonrith uncovered a large, yellow, wax-like mound on Tarutao Island in Satun, Thailand, which he believes could be ambergris — a foul stomach mixture that comes from sperm whales but later develops a sought-after smell used in many perfumes.



The lump weighed nearly five pounds, which Boonrith thinks could be worth around £80,000, or roughly $102,768, Daily Mail reported.
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According to the Natural History Museum, ambergris has been called the treasure of the sea and floating gold for it’s unique and costly uses, however, it is most commonly known as “whale vomit” as many believe that “the whale regurgitates the mass.”

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When first vomited, the substance has a foul smell and floats at the surface at the ocean. After drying out, however, the smell becomes more sweet and long-lasting, which is why it is a common ingredient in perfumes.



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Although Boonrith is not completely certain that the chunk is ambergris, his fingers are crossed as he hopes to sell the piece so he can quit his job as a “rag picker” and have more money for his family.

“I used to be a fisherman but a storm destroyed my boat. Now I wander along the beach looking through rubbish trying to find valuable things,” he told the Daily Mail.
<div class="inner-container"> <img src="https://peopledotcom.files.wordpress.com/2019/11/ambergris-4.jpg" alt="" title="" /> </div>




Adding, “I am willing to sell the chunk of whale vomit and buy a new boat to revive my career as a fisherman, because the earnings from rag picking was not enough to feed my family.’
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According to the outlet, local government officials will find Boonrith later this month to determine if the mass is, in fact, ambergris and to figure out how much the lump may be worth.

https://people.com/pets/collector-fi...it-worth-100k/

[jabir]

Good luck to him, and hope he keeps it safe not under the bed.

[AntRobertson]

Friend of mine found a small chunk of that stuff on a beach in NZ years ago (or to be precise his dog did).

Fraction of the size of that one, think he sold it for around $10,000.

[harrybarracuda]

local government officials will find Boonrith later this month to determine if the mass is, in fact, ambergris and to figure out how much the lump may be worth.

I can only see that ending in tears.

[jabir]

Might be the cynic taking over, but I reckon if he ends up with anything at all once the grubby mitts get in on the action it won't be half what it's worth.

[Wally Dorian Raffles]

I actually remember finding a big chunk of this washed up on the shore on Stradbroke Island when I was a kid. Of course, I didn't have a clue what it was.