This bronze sculpture is part of Rip Caswell's National Geographic collection. It was inspired by an encounter Rip had while observing gray whales, an event that altered his way of thinking forever. As a mother whale broke the surface of the water just feet from the boat, she appeared to look directly in his eyes. After disappearing for a moment, she returned with her young calf, which she gently nudged toward the boat, allowing him to pet and caress it. At that moment they felt that she trusted him and he was aware of the conscious intelligence of animals.