Madurai: Forest officials have seized Rs 10 crore worth of whale remains in Madurai. They arrested 3 people and are investigating where they were abducted from and why they are selling them on the black market.
Madurai Wildlife Conservation Division has received a tip-off that some people have hoarded government-banned whale carcasses used in the manufacture of expensive perfumes and medicines at a shop on Chinnakadai Street, South Kumasi Road, Madurai. Based on that they went to that store and checked. They confiscated 11kg of whale carcasses stored there. The value of this whale remains is said to be Rs 10 crore.
Rajaram (36) of Manjanakara Street, Madurai, Sundarapandi (36) of Villapuram Housing Board area and Kavi (48) of Keeranur, Sivagangai District have been arrested by the Forest Department and are being investigated. They are constantly investigating where this whale remains were brought from, what it is used for and why it is being bought at such a high price. Forest officials declined to release details of the investigation.
Madurai District Forest Officer Kurusami Thapala said, “Whale remains are precious in the counterfeit markets. Smugglers sell it for a price according to the environment, ”he said. Forest Ranger Manikandan said, “The three people who hoarded say the value of the whale remains is between Rs 45 lakh and Rs 50 lakh. But we do not know what its true value is. Could not investigate yet. Anything can be said clearly after the completion, ” he said.
What is Whale Residue?
A forest official said: “The whale’s stomach naturally secretes a fluid called ambergris when it is swept away by the waves. This fluid forms a sphere. This residue makes the whale vomit from its mouth. Thus the residue or vomit of the whale is called ambergris. When it is heated by fire, it emits a pleasant aroma. Therefore, this liquid, which is released from the remains of the whale in the sea, is used in the black market to make various perfumes and various pharmaceutical products. Therefore, the fluid of the whale has been very popular among the smugglers on the black market, ”he said.