Scientists find ‘floating gold’ worth £425,000 inside dead whale washed up on the Canary Islands 

Scientists on the Canary Island of La Palma were shocked to discover £425,000 worth of ‘floating gold’ in the digestive system of a stranded sperm whale.

The 21-pound piece of ambergris found in the guts of the beast is now on the market, with discoverer Antonio Fernández Rodríguez hoping to spend the coupons helping victims of the volcano that erupted on the island two years ago .

The 40-foot-long whale died of sepsis caused by the nodule, the scientists’ post-mortem examination showed, before washing up on Nogales beach last month.

Heavy seas and rising tide made it difficult to complete the analysis, but Rodríguez, head of the Animal Health and Food Security Institute at the University of Las Palmas, was determined to complete the mission.

The bump found by Antonio Fernández Rodríguez, head of the Animal Health and Food Security Institute at the University of Las Palmas, is worth around £425,000

Ambergris, or “floating gold,” is highly valued for its use in perfumery

Suspecting a digestive problem, he felt something hard sticking to that part of the gut.

“What I took out was a stone about 50-60 cm in diameter and weighing 9.5 kg,” said Rodríguez.

“The waves washed over the whale. Everyone was watching when I returned to the beach, but they didn’t know that what I held in my hands was ambergris.’

Ambergris, also known as floating gold or gray amber, is a rare substance – produced by about one in 100 sperm whales – that has been sought after for perfume for hundreds of years.

The question of where the substance comes from was not resolved until whaling became more widespread in the early 19th century.

The marine mammals eat masses of squid and squid, most of which are indigestible and regurgitated.

But some remains and over time binds together in the whale’s intestines to form ambergris.

That ‘floating gold’ is sometimes excreted, which is why it is usually found floating in the sea, but sometimes, as with the whale on La Palma, it gets too big, ruptures the gut and kills the whale.

If the animal’s carcass is found, it could mean a big bonus for some lucky fishermen or beachgoers.

Ambergris is perfect for perfume because of its woody scent and content of ambrein – an odorless alcohol that can extend the life of that or another fragrance.

Ambergris is sometimes excreted by whales, which is why it is usually found floating in the sea, but sometimes it gets too big, ruptures the gut and kills the whale

With the sale of the ambergris it is hoped to finance repairs after a volcanic eruption on La Palma in 2021

However, the US, Australia and India have banned the floating gold trade to discourage whaling.

Nevertheless, the University of Las Palmas is looking for a buyer to fund repairs after the 2021 volcanic eruption on the island, which caused more than £685 million in damage and destroyed hundreds of homes and businesses.

“The law is different in every country,” Rodríguez noted.

“In our case, I hope the money goes to the island of La Palma, where the whale ran aground and died.”