Two Florida men accused of harassing panther kittens

Wildlife investigators have arrested two Florida men they say posted several videos showing them handling federally protected Florida panther kittens and wrestling and harassing alligators.

Alfredo Lopez de Queralta, 45, and Javier Torres, 42, from Miami, were arrested on Tuesday, on eight felony counts each of killing, injuring or possessing alligators or eggs without authority and eight misdemeanor counts pertaining to handling or endangering threatened species.

The incidents occurred in the Big Cypress National Preserve, according to a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission arrest report.

The arrests of Queralta and Torres come after a year-long investigation by state and federal officials, which kicked off when authorities watched a YouTube video the two had posted on February 22, 2017, according to the Miami Herald. 

The video that officials from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), and agents with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Parks Service saw was titled ‘Pantera de la Florida con dos Cachorros,’ which translates from Spanish to English as ‘Florida Panther with two cubs.’

Torres is seen handling and harassing the animals, while Queralta operates the camera, according to the arrest report.

The video from February 2017 appears to show Torres walking through part of the Big Cypress National Preserve at Loop Road in mainland Monroe County.

Torres (left) and Queralta (right) were arrested on eight felony counts each of killing, injuring or possessing alligators or eggs without authority and eight misdemeanor counts pertaining to handling or endangering threatened species

Torres comes upon a Florida panther den, crawls in, and an adult panther is shown running off, it is claimed.

At that point, Queralta quietly says, ‘pantera,’ from behind the camera.

Torres can then be seen emerging from the den, holding two Florida panther kittens, ‘kissing and cuddling them,’ the report written by FWC investigator Guy Gilbert says. 

Torres then speaks to the camera, saying one kitten is male and one is female. 

‘He poses with the kittens again before tossing them back into the den,’ Gilbert wrote.

Florida panthers (stock image) are listed as an endangered species. The Endangered Species Act makes it illegal to harass, wound, kill and capture the Florida panther and all other endangered species

Multiple videos found by State and federal investigators show Torres harassing alligators in a variety of ways, while Queralta captures it in video, investigators say

Torres is then shown lying on the ground, crying, the report says. 

‘He stands up and explained that he was emotional because they have spent so much time trying to find a panther den and it was a lot of work and took time away from their families,’ Gilbert writes.

All of the other videos found by State and federal investigators show Torres harassing alligators in a variety of ways, while Queralta captures it in video.

‘There are several videos of this activity and they show the carelessness of Torres’ behavior,’ the report reads.

‘There are several videos of this activity and they show the carelessness of Torres’ behavior,’ the arrest report reads

‘[Torres can be seen continuing] to harass the animals by grabbing them, capturing them, sitting on top of them and pulling them around,’ the arrest report states

‘In one video, he wades into a swamp to capture an alligator, then holds the alligator’s mouth open while he puts his head inside the mouth.’

‘[Torres can be seen continuing] to harass the animals by grabbing them, capturing them, sitting on top of them and pulling them around,’ Gilbert writes, despite the alligators trying to get away from him.

‘In several videos, Torres repeatedly smacks the alligators in the head and mouth.’

Torres allegedly ‘did not obtain any permits or license that would allow him to possess, capture, injure or kill American alligators from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission or the US Fish and Wildlife Service or any portion of the Big Cypress National Preserve,’ the report states.

Separate videos show Torres placing a stick in an alligator’s mouth, which prompted it to snap its jaws closed after he carried the reptile to a roadway, as well as biting another alligator on the right rear foot, as it tried to escape from his grasp in the water, Gilbert writes in the report.    

Torres was the man interacting with the animals, while Queralta caught it all on video, it is claimed

Torres allegedly ‘did not obtain any permits’ that would allow for the actions he is seen taking

‘As far as how common this is, I’ve never seen a case where someone posted a video about invading a Florida panther den and coming out with kittens before,’ federal wildlife agency spokesman Ken Warren told the Sun-Sentinel one year ago, when the investigation first began.

At that time, investigators were not convinced the video was authentic. 

Florida panthers are listed as an endangered species.

The Endangered Species Act makes it illegal to harass, wound, kill and capture the Florida panther and all other endangered species. 

Under federal law, those found to be in violation of the act may be sentenced to up to one year in jail and receive a fine of up to $100,000. Under Florida law, those convicted of violated the act may face up to a five-year sentence and a fine of up to  $5,000.

There were estimated to be no more than 230 adult Florida panthers in their designated breeding area, as of 2015, by the US Fish & Wildlife Service. 

Big Cypress National Preserve is located near the southwestern tip of the state.

The two men’s bond has been set at $80,000 by a judge. 

The two men’s bond has been set at $80,000 by a judge