According to scientists, there are two distinct species of elephants in Africa, the forest elephants which are the smaller of the two and the savannah elephants. The distinction is important not just for purely scientific reasons, but also for species protection as the U.S is being petitioned with Endangered Species Act protections for these magnificent animals. "An endangered listing would ... tighten restrictions on the import, export and sale of ivory products to, from and in the United States. After China, the United States is the world’s second-largest market for ivory, with the legal trade in old ivory being used as a cover for illegal trade in new ivory. "Last month, a senior Chinese wildlife official pledged to end the ivory trade if the United States does, too." So it is imperative that the U.S recognizes first, that these species are distinct, and second, that these distinct species are critically endangered, and finally the United States needs to act before it is too late.