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'Pilgrim and Calf' sculpture by celebrated artist Geoffrey C. Smith

A bronze sculpture of 'Pilgrim and calf' by renowned artist Geoffrey C. Smith. Purchased and gifted to IFAW by Board member and passionate wildlife conservationist Barbara Birdsey, visits to institutions and museums up and down the east coast with the goal of raising awareness for a species which only a century ago numbered in the tens of thousands.

Bronze Sculpture of North Atlantic Right whale and calf

Art is a bridge between peo­ple and conservation…unless we do some­thing, very very quick­ly, we will be the last gen­er­a­tion to ever see the right whale.

– Geoffrey C. Smith

Pilgrim's Story

pilgrim is a female North Atlantic right whale born in 2013 and named after her first sighting in Cape Cod Bay near Pilgrim Power Station. With fewer than 70 reproductively active females remaining, she plays a critical role in the survival of the rapidly dwindling population of this critically endangered species.

Pilgrims's family tree illustrates the power of a prolific matriarch and the existential extinction threat North Atlantic right whales face from entanglement in fishing gear and vessel strikes. Pilgrim's mother, Wart was severely entangled in fishing gear for two years and was ultimately freed after multiple rescue attempts. From 1982 to 2013. Wart gave birth to seven known calves, with four of those, including Pilgrim, surviving to become breeding females. Pilgrim in turn gave birth to her first calf during the 2022-2023 calving season. Sadly, the calf did not survive and was found off the coast of Georgia with injuries consistent with a vessel strike. While her mother and calf suffered directly from the threats facing North Atlantic right whales, Pilgrim continues to stand as a hopeful reminder of what can still be protected. Pilgrim continues to be spotted returning to Cape Cod waters and there is reason to hope she will have another calf in the next year or two.

Inspired by a sighting of Pilgrim and her calf off the coast of Florida, the bronze sculpture was created by renowned wildlife sculptor Geoffrey C. Smith and generously donated to the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) by Barbara Birdsey of the The Pegasus Foundation.