The huge chunk of ambergris was found lodged inside the sperm whale — and scientists believe it ruptured its intestine, causing its death and subsequent beaching in La Palma.

  • TheCaptain@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Sometimes I wish I had a job that meant spending time outdoors…

    Antonio Fernández Rodríguez, an animal health researcher at the University of Las Palmas, was digging inside the washed-up whale’s carcass>

    And yet other times I’m very happy with an office job.

  • pizzaiolo@slrpnk.net
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    1 year ago

    The highly valuable substance — called ambergris — is a waxy material secreted by sperm whales when they swallow indigestible material such as squid beaks.

    Ambergris is used to make perfumes and can sell for thousands of dollars per pound.

    TIL perfume is occasionally not vegan