SPERM WHALES
We supply the finest quality Ambergris collected from beaches across the Horn of Africa, The Caribbean & Asia, ideal for use in perfumery, incense and culinary applications. All of our Ambergris is tested for authenticity and quality. Shop online today or contact us if you have some Ambergris that you wish to sell.
About Sperm Whales
The Sperm Whale is the largest toothed predator in the world. They are found in all oceans, from the poles to the equator. They live for about 70 years or more and have a worldwide range, migrating seasonally for feeding and breeding.
They mainly feed on giant squid and when hunting, they can dive to a staggering 2 kilometres for over an hour at a time, their bodies able to withstand the massive pressures of the deep oceans.
Sperm Whales are believed to be relatively intelligent animals. They have the largest brains of any animal, more than five times heavier than a human brain.
Females and young males live together in groups, while mature males live solitary lives outside of the mating season. Females work together to protect and nurse their young. They give birth a number of times during their lives, sometimes as frequently as every four years and they care for their calves for more than a decade.
They are massive animals. On average, adult males measure approx. 16 metres in length and weigh around 41 tonnes whilst the average female will measure around 11 metres in length and weigh 14 tonnes. It is believed that extensive whaling may have decreased their average size, as the largest whales were often targeted by whaling ships.
There have been individual specimens recorded at over 20 metres in length, including the whale that attacked and sank the whaling ship ‘Essex’ in the year 1820. This whale was estimated to be 26 metres in length and was in part the inspiration for the book Moby Dick, written in 1851 by Herman Melville.
Sperm Whales get their name from ‘Spermaceti’ or sperm oil. This substance is found inside the whales head and it is believed that the whale uses it to control buoyancy and to help with echolocation, the whales biological sonar. This oil is the main reason why the whales were hunted as it was used to produce oil-lamp oil, candles and soap amongst other things.
Extensive whaling during the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries significantly reduced their numbers but thanks to a worldwide whale hunting ban, it is believed this decline has been reversed. It is estimated there are a few hundred thousand sperm whales alive today but the exact number is not known.
That said there are still a number of whales killed each year and they are still considered to be vulnerable to the point of being endangered. Some nations kill them for what they claim to be ‘scientific research’ but it is thought that the main threat to sperm whales is from entanglement in fishing nets and collisions with ships. Calves and weakened adults are sometimes killed by pods of orcas (killer whales).
One of the most interesting facts that we know about sperm whale behaviour is that they sleep, assuming a vertical position with their heads just below or at the surface.
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Testimonials
I have purchased White Ambergris from Ambergris Hunter to make incense, essential oils and perfumes and it is always fantastic. I have bought Ambergris before from a few sources and this is definitely the best I have seen. The service is always great, I pay online and it arrives very quickly by post. I will be buying more from you and thoroughly recommend your Ambergris and your service.
I have now bought a few pieces of white ambergris and grey ambergris from the Ambergris Hunter. It is very good quality and I have used it to make my own perfumes. I can recommend the quality of the Ambergris and the service. I bought a few small pieces on the website and a larger piece by calling and negotiating a very good price. Thank you for your help and I look forward to next time.