VIRAL: $550,000 Worth of "Floating Gold" Found in Dead Sperm Whale Washed Up on Beach

A 15-ton sperm whale washed up on the beaches of the Spanish island of La Palma, and experts have explained the enigma surrounding its presence. The University of Las Palmas of Gran Canaria's postmortem research on the whale revealed a lump of "floating gold."

The whale's presence on Nogales Beach last month first puzzled Antonio Fernández Rodrguez, head of the university's Institute of Animal Health and Food Security.

Still, the expert learned the truth during the autopsy. Rodrguez took a massive stone from the whale's digestive system and identified it as Ambergris, a valuable and rare material, per The Guardian.

Fragrances made from Ambergris, or "floating gold," are highly sought after because of the substance's rare qualities. The Ambergris that was discovered in the whale weighed around 9.5 kilograms and has a market value that might reach up to €500,000 ($549,912), according to The Independent. Rodriguez suspected the stone in the whale's stomach worsened its sickness that led to the creature's demise.

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Highly Valued Substance

Ambergris comes from the stomach contents of sperm whales, which include the carcasses of squid and cuttlefish. It is formed when these leftovers coagulate in the whale's digestive tract. While Ambergris is often observed floating in the ocean after being ejected, in extreme circumstances, like the La Palma whale, it may cause the gut to burst.

The unusual compound comprises ambrein, an odorless alcohol that improves and extends the lifetime of perfumes, and has a woody aroma similar to sandalwood. The perfume industry highly prizes Ambergris for its scent quality.

The institution discovered a large amount of Ambergris from the whale and is now looking to sell the "floating gold." The proceeds from the sale may be used to aid the victims of the 2021 La Palma volcanic eruption, which caused over €800 million ($880 million) in damage, per LAD Bible.

Rodriguez said he hoped the money made from selling the whale's Ambergris would go toward helping the community of La Palma, where the marine creature died. Funds generated will be distributed under national and local regulations.