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Researchers tracking free-roaming polar bears in northern Canada observed something remarkably uncommon this autumn: a female bear taking in a cub that was not biologically her own.

The half-decade-old maternal bear and her 10- to 11-month-old cubs were spotted and filmed during the yearly polar bear journey along the Hudson Bay's western shore near the Manitoba town of Churchill, an area renowned for its polar bear population.

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

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

The female bear was initially tagged as she came out from her maternity den this springtime. Initially, she had one cub, which scientists tagged for study.

In the fall, she was spotted once more, but this time with two cubs - the initially tagged cub and a second that was untagged. Researchers are uncertain what happened to the second cub's biological mother, but they are attempting to identify her using genetic samples.

"These animals need all the help they can get these days with climate change," commented a polar bear scientist. "When mother bears have the chance to pick up an additional youngster and care for it and successfully wean it, it's a positive development for the population."

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

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

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

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