I was rushing around half listening to Radio 4 on Saturday morning and I heard that when a whale vomits, it floats on the sea and does not disburse for months sometimes years, it gets washed up on shore and becomes extremely valuable why? It can be used for glue? It has a smell greatly prized in some form of perfume? It forms some kind of collectable solid? Did I hear correctly? Surely this was a wind-up anyone know what this was all about? Sorry to put this question a little indelicately, also I cannot see a suitable category so I suppose it could be a current event or not depending on when the whale actually chucked up.
2007-08-26 11:58:48 · 14 answers · asked by MADDY 4 in News & Events ➔ Current Events
Good grief not a joke, oh dear not feeling too good now. I cannot swim but am thinking of giving up paddling!
2007-08-26 12:12:28 · update #1
Dellyxx I, as you can probably tell, am not too well informed about whales but wouldn't they die if they stopped swimming to eat? I am finding this totally fascinating, if a little stomach churning, sounds a bit complicated being a whale, eating, breathing and swimming, they must have some kind of a rotation worked out. That is without taking having baby whales into consideration!
2007-08-26 12:35:27 · update #2
Hey delly did not think you sarcastic, I have an irrational fear of water but find anything to do with the water a bit mindblowing. It had never occurred to me that whales or creatures who live in water might have what we would think of as 'human' traits of being ill. This has opened a whole new interest area to me too, I cannot put see you in the sea because I doubt I will ever learn to swim but will wave from the shore as you investigate for both of us! lol
2007-08-26 20:46:11 · update #3
Yes its all true.. Its called ambergris.. its actually produced in the whales stomach...
"Ambergris (Ambra grisea, Ambre gris, ambergrease, or grey amber) is a solid, waxy, flammable substance of a dull grey or blackish color, with the shades being variegated like marble. It possesses a peculiar sweet, earthy odor similar to isopropyl alcohol. Now largely replaced by synthetics, it is occasionally still used as a fixative in perfumery.
Ambergris was also molded, dried, decorated and worn as jewelry, particularly during the Renaissance. It was often formed into beads.
It has also been used as a flavouring in food, and the favourite dish of King Charles II of England is said to have been eggs and ambergris."
2007-08-26 12:10:31 · answer #1 · answered by darkfaery 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ambergris occurs as a biliary secretion of the intestines of the sperm whale, and can be found floating upon the sea, or in the sand near the coast. Because giant squids' beaks have been found embedded within lumps of ambergris, scientists have theorized that the whale's intestine produces the substance as a means of facilitating the passage of hard, sharp objects that the whale might have inadvertently eaten. Yes it is true, it is said to have a sweet, earthy smell to it. I have never smelled it first hand. Hope this helps.
2007-08-26 12:10:00 · answer #2 · answered by Ann Michelle 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
My husband's boss found a huge chunk not 2 months ago here in Australia on Morten Island. He had trouble selling it for cash as it's classed as a whale byproduct and therefore illegal to trade. I think Hubby said he gave it to the museum. I had never heard of it either but I googled "whale vomit" and found loads of results. It's mostly used for preserving perfume.
2007-08-26 16:13:55 · answer #3 · answered by blahblahblah 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That is really quite amazing.
A whale must vomit regularly then? What would make a whale sick? Is it because it eats as it swims?
EDIT - Maddy, I should have said is it because it eats anything and everything as it swims along... lol My answer isn't sarcastic, I'm genuinely interested - going to look it up!!
2007-08-26 12:21:05 · answer #4 · answered by Delly xx 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ambergris, or what you refer to a whale vomit, is a waxy substance that is believed to come from the intestines of a sperm whale and is used in perfume as a fixative (meaning to keep it from evaporating too fast).
2007-08-26 12:15:09 · answer #5 · answered by Rli R 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You heard correctly. It is called ambergris, has been collected for use in perfume for hundreds of years, and is cut from the stomachs of killed whales as well as vomited up.
2007-08-26 12:07:36 · answer #6 · answered by Harry Lillis 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Yes if only your average woman realised that she actually smells of whales sick... personally I prefer mine au naturale
2007-08-26 14:27:20 · answer #7 · answered by 17pdr 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
That is the first time i heard that, i heard soap came from whales
aaaggghhh!!!
2007-08-26 12:15:35 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I can see it now..."Eau de Puque"...just a pinch between your cheek and gum, lasts all day, keeps the flies away.
2007-08-26 12:09:14 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
What you heard was correct
2007-08-26 12:08:41 · answer #10 · answered by carr52 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋