The local outrage over a couple of tourists who posted social media pictures of themselves touching Hawaiian monk seals was heartening and disheartening at the same time.

Heartening is the protective kinship Hawaii people feel for these lovable and endangered animals, of which there are only about 1,400 left in the main Hawaiian Islands and Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument.

Disheartening is that we’re so seldom able to muster the same absolute loving concern for our fellow human beings.

The seals were touched, but not harmed, by visitors who said they were unaware that disturbing them was prohibited. The animals chased them away with a few snarls and barks.

The horrified outcry was far greater than we usually have for egregious crimes against humanity seen in the daily news.

There were death threats on the internet directed at the offenders, and elected officials — who have little more than thoughts and prayers for mass shooting victims — defended the seals with words bolder than we ever thought we’d hear.

Gov. David Ige found his social media passwords and took to Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to sternly warn visitors, “I want to be clear that this behavior is absolutely unacceptable. … Make no mistake, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

When has the local internet been so abuzz with pained community affront about victims of human trafficking in Hawaii?

When have politicians said so unequivocally they won’t stand for domestic violence against women and children, homeless fellow humans having to live on the streets in filth, or Hawaii children forced to leave their beloved home because they can’t survive in an economy that caters to rich outsiders?

There are understandable reasons for the disparate emotions.

We’re prideful about our state and touchy about perceived contempt from those who visit; messing with our monk seals is a sure way to evoke that sensitivity.

“When people feel like Hawaii is being disrespected by visitors who are looking for social media clout, the response is going to always be outrage,” said Kauai Prosecutor Justin Kollar.

The monk seals are one of the most endangered species on the planet, and protecting the cherished creatures is one of the few things nearly all can agree on in our community so fractured along so many fault lines.

The problems mentioned above, and others like international pandemics and climate change, are so big and intractable that we’ve come to feel powerless to solve them.

With monk seals, we feel we can do something, unlike the mass shootings, economic ruin and environmental carnage that leave us feeling helpless. Getting on the internet and raising a little hell might actually make a difference.

Valid enough, but we need to find the same self-respect, outrage and common purpose to demand with equal fervor that action be taken to address the bigger human problems, too.

With so many of those, the endangered species is us.

Reach David Shapiro at volcanicash@gmail.com.