the word 'death' may also be seen as meaning the ceasing of utilizing the outermost biological energetic shell which is the vehicle of expression in third density space/time, regardless of species.
dw and others have put forth the concept of bodily ascension, a process wherein a spontaneous dna upgrade may potentially transmute the body into a vehicle of higher density expression, given sufficient experience with mastery of third density lessons and, in terms of en-masse ascension, a commensurate boost of outer energetic catalyst, perhaps coming in the form of a wave of fourth density energy which nudges the planet past the barrier between third and fourth density.