Javier Torres (Born January 5, 1976) is a resident of Miami, Florida. In May 2018 Torres and Alfredo Lopez de Queralta were charged federally after posting a videos of themselves harassing alligators and critically endangered Florida panther kittens. ^[1]

Javier Torres was born in Caibarién, Cuba and later moved to Miami, Florida.

Javier Torres lives in a home in Southwest Miami.

Neighbors said they often saw Torres trying to train pigeons.

Javier Torres and Alfredo Lopez de Queralta were charged by state authorities in February 2018 after they posted videos of themselves harassing alligators and critically endangered Florida panther kittens in the Big Cypress National Preserve. In May 2018 they were indicted on federal charges.

The state charged Javier Torres and Alfredo Lopez de Queralta with eight felony counts each of killing, injuring or possessing alligator eggs without authorization on February 22, 2018. The United States Attorney's Office charged the men in May 2018 with knowingly taking a Florida panther. They were released on their own recognizance on May 21, 2018.

Florida panthers are critically endangered, with 2017 estimates putting their numbers between 120 and 230, according to wildlife officials.

Torres and Queralta were originally arrested after a joint investigation by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Parks Service that was prompted after YouTube videos showed up of Torres harassing gators and holding panther kittens. Queralta filmed the videos, according to FWC Investigator Guy Gilbert's report.

The video that sparked the probe was titled, "Pantera de la Florida con dos Cachorros," or "Florida Panther with two Cubs."

The video, according to Gilbert's report, shows Torres walking through a wooded area on the mainland Monroe County, Florida portion of the Big Cypress National Preserve, crawling into what turns out to be a panther den and scaring off an adult cat. The cameraman, Queralta, whispers, "Pantera."

Torres emerges with two kittens "kissing and cuddling them," Gilbert wrote in his report.

"He poses with the two kittens again before tossing them back into the den," according to Gilbert's affidavit. The video then cuts to Torres lying on the ground crying.

"He stands up and explained that he was emotional because they had spent so much time trying to find a panther den, and it was a lot of work and took time away from their family," Gilbert wrote.

Other videos show Torres harassing alligators.

In one, he wades into a swamp to capture an alligator, then holds the animal's mouth open while he puts his head inside the mouth, according to the FWC report.

Other videos show gators trying to get away from Torres as he pulls their tails.

Some videos show Torres repeatedly smacking gators in the head.

Queralta and Torres are scheduled to appear in court on the state charges July 10, 2018.