The album's music accompanied a documentary series about the animal kingdom directed by Frédéric Rossif that was broadcast on French TV in 1973.

This album is one of Vangelis' earliest works, recorded whilst still a member of progressive rock band Aphrodite's Child.

It also marks the first time that he collaborated with French director Frédéric Rossif on soundtracks relating to his TV documentary programmes.

In opposition to the way he later recorded soundtrack music – watching the filmed material, then composing to it – in this instance he simply recorded a suite of generic tunes (based on the wildlife theme of the project, but not having access to it) and left it to the film editors to splice-in whatever they needed.

Not only was he still part of a band and collaborating with a variety of artists, but he had also created a soundtrack to the film Sex Power by Henry Chapier and participated in recording sessions with some of the most talented jazz and rock musicians in London at the time, the results of which were later released without Vangelis's authorization as the albums Hypothesis and The Dragon.