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Researchers monitoring wild polar bears in Canada's northern regions observed something remarkably uncommon this fall: a female bear adopting a cub that was not genetically her own.

The five-year-old mother and her nearly year-old cubs were observed and captured on camera during the annual polar bear journey along the Hudson Bay's western shore near Churchill, Manitoba, an locale known for its concentration of Arctic bears.

"It's unusual," remarked a scientist with a polar bear conservation group. "We don't really know why it occurs...but we know it doesn't happen often at all."

It's only the 13th known case of adoption out of 4,600 bears studied for almost fifty years in that region.

The mother bear was initially tagged as she came out from her maternity den this spring. At the time, she had one cub, which scientists marked for study.

In the fall, she was seen again, but this time with two cubs - the original cub and another without a tag. Researchers are uncertain what happened to the second cub's birth mother, but they are attempting to locate her using DNA analysis.

"The bears need every advantage they can get in the current era with a warming climate," commented a polar bear scientist. "If females have the opportunity to take in another cub and care for it and see it to independence, it's a positive development for the bears."

Polar bears in the natural world only have a 50% chance of surviving into maturity, but having a mother providing care improves their odds.

The young bears are reported as in good condition, according to experts, and they will probably remain with their mother until they are about two-and-a-half years old.

Following this, the bear family is anticipated to venture out to sea ice, where the cubs will learn from their mother bear how to catch prey and live on their own.

"It is heartening to know that the animals are caring for each other," added the scientist.