Today, the term 'endangered species' is well understood by even the youngest school child; however, that has not always been the case. It wasn't until the Endangered Species Preservation Act that the first list of endangered species was issued in 1967; then, fearing enough wasn't being done, the Endangered Species Act was passed in 1973, designed to protect critically imperiled species from extinction. Advocating the theme of these important environmental laws, this classic animal conservation documentary, narrated by the respected actor and wildlife activist John Forsythe, reflects on man's responsibility to wildlife as a question of duty. It is presented with a classical music track that complements poetry of Walt Whitman and William Cullen Bryant, while examining the context of the beauty of nature and the history of environmental concerns in North America; also we discover how conservation groups, such as the National Wildlife Federation, Ducks Unlimited, and the National Audubon Society, sprang up to help protect embattled species.