Final answer:
The genetic rescue of panthers was necessitated by a sharp population decline due to habitat loss, hunting, environmental changes, and a lack of genetic diversity. Similar patterns are observed with other species, where the loss of top predators leads to significant ecosystem repercussions. Climate change and human hunting also historically contributed to species declines.
Step-by-step explanation:
The genetic rescue of panthers was kick-started due to a drastic decline in their population numbers. This decline was largely caused by factors such as habitat loss, human hunting, and a decrease in food availability due to various environmental changes. In the case of the Florida panther, for instance, a lack of genetic diversity also posed a threat to the species' survival.
Similar patterns of population declines due to loss of habitat, human activities, or environmental changes can be observed in the case of other predators such as cougars in Utah, leading to unintended ecological consequences such as an overpopulation of deer.