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

The half-decade-old mother and her nearly year-old cubs were observed and filmed during the annual polar bear journey along the Hudson Bay's western shore near the Manitoba town of Churchill, an area known for its concentration of Arctic bears.

"It's unusual," stated a scientist with a polar bear conservation group. "The reasons are unclear why it occurs...but we know it doesn't happen often at all."

This represents only the 13th known case of adoption out of nearly five thousand bears researched for nearly five decades in the area.

The mother bear was initially tagged as she emerged from her birthing den this springtime. At the time, she had one cub, which scientists tagged for research.

In the fall, she was seen again, but this time with two cubs - the initially tagged cub and another that was untagged. Scientists aren't sure what happened to the new cub's birth mother, but they are trying to identify her using genetic samples.

"These animals need all the help they can get in the current era with a warming climate," noted 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 good thing for the population."

Polar bears in the natural world only have a 50% chance of living into adulthood, but having a mother providing care boosts their chances.

The cubs appear to be healthy, researchers said, and they will probably remain with their 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 catch prey and survive on their own.

"It's just nice to know that the animals are caring for each other," concluded the researcher.