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Scientists tracking free-roaming polar bears in Canada's northern regions observed something remarkably uncommon this autumn: a female bear adopting a cub that was not biologically her own.

The five-year-old mother and her 10- to 11-month-old cubs were spotted and captured on camera during the yearly polar bear journey along the Hudson Bay's western shore near Churchill, Manitoba, an locale known for its concentration of Arctic bears.

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

It's only the 13th known case of fostering out of nearly five thousand bears studied for almost fifty years in that region.

The mother bear was first captured as she came out from her maternity den this springtime. Initially, she had one cub, which researchers marked for study.

In the fall, she was seen again, but this time with two cubs - the initially tagged cub and a second that was untagged. Scientists are uncertain what became of the new cub's biological mother, but they are attempting to locate her using genetic samples.

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

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

The cubs appear to be in good condition, researchers said, and they will likely stay with their mother until they are about two-and-a-half years old.

Following this, the family is anticipated to head out to sea ice, where the youngsters will be taught from their mother how to hunt seals and survive on their own.

"It's just nice to know that the animals are looking out for each other," added the researcher.