Five nations in southern Africa are joining together to create a huge conservation area that will extend across their borders. But can these new protections reverse decades of decline for elephants and other area wildlife while also benefiting the people who live there?

“For 12 hours, two herds of wild South African elephants slowly made their way through the Zululand bush until they reached the house of late author Lawrence Anthony, the conservationist who saved their lives.The formerly violent, rogue elephants, destined to be shot a few years ago as pests, were rescued and rehabilitated by Anthony, who had grown up in the bush and was known as the “Elephant Whisperer.”

For two days the herds loitered at Anthony’s rural compound on the vast Thula Thula game reserve in the South African KwaZulu – to say good-bye to the man they loved. But how did they know he had died March 7? Known for his unique ability to calm traumatized elephants, Anthony had become a legend. He is the author of three books, Babylon Ark, detailing his efforts to rescue the animals at Baghdad Zoo during the Iraqi war, the forthcoming The Last Rhinos, and his bestselling The Elephant Whisperer.

There are two elephant herds at Thula Thula. According to his son Dylan, both arrived at the Anthony family compound shortly after Anthony’s death.“They had not visited the house for a year and a half and it must have taken them about 12 hours to make the journey,” Dylan is quoted in various local news accounts. “The first herd arrived on Sunday and the second herd, a day later. They all hung around for about two days before making their way back into the bush.”Elephants have long been known to mourn their dead. In India, baby elephants often are raised with a boy who will be their lifelong “mahout.” The pair develop legendary bonds – and it is not uncommon for one to waste away without a will to live after the death of the other.”

In a major development just last month, Canadian Senator Mac Harb introduced legislation in the Canadian Senate to end the largest commercial slaughter of marine mammals on Earth. The good news is the bill was unanimously approved to pass for second reading. BUT final passage of this critical legislation is still up for debate, so we must do everything in our power to make this happen. 

Please take urgent action today, and tell the Canadian Senate to support this humane and lifesaving bill and end the shameful seal slaughter for good.

In the East Coast of Canada, there was yet another year of very poor ice conditions that threaten the very survival of harp seal populations. But instead of taking action to protect seals, the Canadian government authorized the sealers to club and shoot 400,000 harp seals.

Canadian Senator Harb’s bill comes at a critical time in our fight to protect baby seals, and we urge the Canadian Senate to do the right thing: End the reckless killing of these defenseless animals. Join us today in telling them you want the bloody cruelty to stop and reblog to spread the message.