Mumbai, Aug. 18 -- The Dapoli customs division seized a little over 4kg of ambergris worth over Rs.5 crore from Goa fort near Harnai beach at Ratnagiri's Dapoli village on August 12. Ambergris, also known as 'whale vomit' is a solid, waxy substance produced in the digestive system of sperm whales, highly valued in the perfume industry as a fragrance enhancer. Ambergris trade is prohibited since the material is classified as a schedule I animal article under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, making this a high value seizure by the Dapoli customs division. Following a tip off, officers of the customs department rushed to the Goa fort near Harnai beach where they found a viscous jelly like substance suspected to be ambergris. The material, highly sought after in the international market, was seized and samples of it were sent for chemical analysis. It was then handed over to the wildlife department. According to scientists, only two or three incidents of free-floating ambergris have been reported in the past five years across Indian coasts. "There have been no sightings (of sperm whales) for quite a while on the Maharashtra coast," said Mahi Manakeshwar, marine biologist at Coastal Conservation Foundation. He added that Sperm whales were deep sea creatures and ambergris, expelled far out at sea, reaches the coast depending on the currents....