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Scientists tracking wild polar bears in northern Canada observed something remarkably uncommon this fall: a mother bear taking in a cub that was not biologically her own.

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

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

This represents only the thirteenth documented instance of adoption out of 4,600 bears studied for nearly five decades in that region.

The mother bear was initially tagged as she came out from her birthing den this springtime. Initially, she had one cub, which scientists marked for research.

In the fall, she was spotted once more, but this time with a pair of cubs - the original cub and a second that was untagged. Scientists 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," noted a wildlife biologist. "If females have the opportunity to take in another cub and raise it and successfully wean it, it's a good thing for the bears."

Polar bears in the natural world only have a fifty-fifty survival rate of surviving into adulthood, but having a maternal figure providing care boosts their chances.

The young bears appear to be in good condition, researchers said, and they will probably stay with their mother until they are about 30 months of age.

Following this, the family is anticipated to venture out to the frozen ocean, where the youngsters will be taught from their mother bear how to catch prey and live on their own.

"It is heartening to know that the bears are looking out for each other," added the researcher.