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Scientists tracking wild polar bears in Canada's northern regions observed something remarkably uncommon this autumn: a female bear taking in a cub that was not genetically her own.

The half-decade-old mother and her 10- to 11-month-old cubs were observed and filmed during the annual polar bear journey along the Western Hudson Bay near the Manitoba town of Churchill, an area renowned for its polar bear population.

"It's unusual," stated a scientist with an international bear organization. "The reasons are unclear why it occurs...but we know it doesn't happen often at all."

It's only the thirteenth documented instance of adoption out of 4,600 bears studied for almost fifty years in the area.

The female bear was first captured as she emerged from her birthing den this springtime. Initially, she had a single offspring, which researchers marked for research.

In the autumn, she was spotted once more, but this time with a pair of cubs - the initially tagged cub and another without a tag. Scientists aren't sure what happened to the new cub's biological mother, but they are attempting to identify her using DNA analysis.

"The bears need every advantage they can get these days with a warming climate," commented a polar bear scientist. "If females have the opportunity to pick up an additional youngster and raise it and see it to independence, it's a positive development for the bears."

Polar bears in the wild only have a 50% chance of surviving into adulthood, but having a maternal figure caring for them boosts their odds.

The young bears appear to be in good condition, according to experts, and they will likely remain with their adoptive mother until they are about 30 months of age.

Following this, the family is anticipated to head out to the frozen ocean, where the youngsters will learn from their mother bear how to catch prey and survive on their own.

"It's just nice to know that the bears are looking out for each other," concluded the scientist.