Thai fisherman finds TWO huge lumps of whale vomit worth up to £240,000 after returning to shore downhearted that he had not caught anything
- Asaree Pooad, 24, cut short fishing trip with father on Tuesday due to monsoon rains in the Satun province
- They noticed two chunks floating in shallow water when returning to shore
- The samples weighed a combined 7.6kg and were sent to scientists for verification
- Ambergris is a highly sought-after ingredient in the perfume industry
A lucky Thai fisherman found two huge lumps of whale vomit valued at £240,000 after returning to the shore disappointed that he had not caught anything.
Asaree Pooad, 24, abandoned his fishing trip with his father on Tuesday due to monsoon rains in the Satun province, south Thailand.
Both were downhearted as they returned to shore empty-handed but the pair noticed two strange chunks floating in the shallow part of the water.
They took home the lumps thinking the samples could be the sought-after whale vomit that they had seen on television.
Asaree Pooad abandoned his fishing trip with his father on Tuesday due to monsoon rains in the Satun province. Both were downhearted when they returned to shore empty-handed but found two large chunks of whale vomit. Pictured: One sample of ambergris weighed 7kg
The father and son took home the solidified whale vomit, (sample pictured), thinking it could be the sought-after ambergris that they had seen on television. Fisherman Asaree Pooad branded the samples ‘treasures’
The father and son were delighted after researchers at a university in the province verified the samples of whale vomit. They were awarded a certificate verifying their discovery
One of the chunks weighed 7kg while the other weighed 600g.
Combined, both lumps could be worth up to £242,000 based on quality and previous prices after scientists at the region’s Prince of Songkhla University checked the ambergris and issued certificates of authenticity.
The father and son are open to offers in case someone wants to buy the lumps from them as well as re-examining them to prove they were real.
‘We had to go home early because of the storm but we ended up finding these treasures,’ Mr Pooad said.
After sending samples to the university, the father and son were delighted when the result came back positive and received a certificate saying that the lumps were whale vomit.
The father and son (pictured) are open for offers in case someone wants to buy the lumps from them. In November 2016, three Omani fishermen found 80kg of ambergris and sold it for $3 million
Whale vomit, pictured, smells foul at first but when solidified it smells fragrant. The ingredient is highly-sought after by the perfume industry
In April 2016, a 1.6kg ambergris ball found in Lancashire was sold for £50,000. The samples found in Thailand (pictured) weighed a combined 7.6kg and are valued at an estimated £242,000
They are now searching for agents that buy ambergris for supplying to perfume manufacturers.
Ambergris is produced by sperm whales when bile ducts in their gastrointestinal tract make secretions to ease the passage of large or sharp objects.
When the whale vomits, the mucilage solidifies and floats on the ocean surface.
The chunk smells foul at first but after the mucilage dries out, it develops a sweet and long-lasting fragrance. It’s a sought-after ingredient in the perfume industry.
In April 2016, a 1.6kg ambergris ball found in Lancashire was sold for £50,000 while in November of the same year, three Omani fisherman found 80kg of ambergris and sold it for $3 million.
Ambergris is valued at approximately £31.85 per gram. The weight of the recent find in Thailand – 7,600 grams – would give an estimated price of £242,000.
Pictured is the sample of whale vomit that weighed 600g. Ambergris is valued at approximately £31.85 per gram
Ambergris is produced by sperm whales (pictured) when bile ducts in their gastrointestinal tract make secretions to ease the passage of large or sharp objects. When the whale vomits, the mucilage solidifies and floats on the ocean surface
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