One whale’s trash is an 8-year-old boy’s treasure. Charlie
Naysmith was walking along the beach at Hengistbury Head
in southern Britain when he picked up a large object that
looked and felt like a stone. As it turned out, that object was
actually a piece of ambergris, a substance which is
regurgitated by sperm whales. Ambergris is used to prolong
the scent of perfume, and therefore is extremely valuable.
The vomit, which weighs a little more than one pound, could
be worth as much as $63,000. Charlie is still unsure what he
will do with the profits, but according to the Daily Echo, he
may build a house for animals.
How about this one…. It is rare that the ambergris gets to
shore, but when it does, it is worth its weight in gold. In
2006 a man found a 32.5-pound piece of ambergris on a
beach in South Australia that was estimated to be worth
nearly $300,000.
