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

The five-year-old maternal bear and her nearly year-old cubs were observed and filmed during the annual polar bear migration along the Hudson Bay's western shore near Churchill, Manitoba, an locale known for its polar bear population.

"It's unusual," stated a scientist with a polar bear conservation group. "The reasons are unclear why it occurs...but we know it is a rare event at all."

It's only the 13th known case of adoption out of nearly five thousand bears studied for nearly five decades in that region.

The mother bear was first captured as she came out from her maternity den this spring. Initially, she had a single offspring, which scientists tagged for research.

In the fall, she was spotted once more, but this time with a pair of cubs - the original cub and a second without a tag. Researchers aren't sure what happened to the second cub's biological mother, but they are attempting to identify her using genetic samples.

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

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

The cubs appear to be healthy, according to experts, and they will likely stay with their mother until they are about two-and-a-half years old.

Following this, the bear family is expected to venture out to sea ice, where the youngsters will learn from their mother how to hunt seals and survive on their own.

"It's just nice to know that the bears are caring for each other," added the scientist.