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

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

"This is uncommon," stated a researcher with an international bear organization. "We don't really know why it happens...but we know it is a rare event at all."

This represents only the 13th known case of fostering out of 4,600 bears researched for almost fifty years in the area.

The female bear was first captured as she emerged from her maternity den this springtime. Initially, she had one cub, 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. Scientists are uncertain what became of the new cub's biological mother, but they are trying to locate her using genetic samples.

"The bears need all the help they can get in the current era with climate change," noted a polar bear scientist. "When mother bears have the opportunity to pick up an additional youngster and raise it and successfully wean it, it's a positive development for the bears."

Polar bears in the wild only have a fifty-fifty survival rate of living into maturity, but having a maternal figure caring for them improves their chances.

The young bears appear to be healthy, 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 expected to venture out to the frozen ocean, where the youngsters will be taught from their mother bear how to hunt seals and live on their own.

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