A dead sperm whale washed up on the shores of La Palma, Canary Island by the waves of the Atlantic Ocean.

Axar.az reports that Antonio Fernandes Rodríguez, director of the Animal Health and Food Safety Institute of the University of Las Palmas (Canary Islands), studied the animal to find out why it died.

The researcher examined the large intestine of the sperm whale and removed a stone-like mass with a diameter of 50-60 centimetres and a weight of 9.5 kilograms.

It turned out that the scientist discovered grey amber, a rare substance known as "floating gold". It is formed in the body of the sperm whale, then secreted for various reasons (including natural ones), and after a long time of "ripening" in the sun, it becomes extremely valuable for perfumers. Amber is an extremely expensive substance, and therefore it is used only in exclusive perfumes.

While the institute is looking for a buyer for the warehouse, Fernandes plans to use the proceeds to help victims of the 2021 La Palma eruption.

The found piece is worth about 500,000 euros.