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Scientists tracking wild polar bears in northern Canada observed something exceedingly rare this autumn: a female bear adopting a cub that was not genetically her own.

The half-decade-old mother and her nearly year-old cubs were spotted and filmed during the yearly polar bear journey along the Western Hudson Bay near the Manitoba town of Churchill, an locale known for its polar bear population.

"This is uncommon," remarked a scientist with an international bear organization. "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 4,600 bears researched for nearly five decades in the area.

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

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

"These animals need all the help they can get in the current era with a warming climate," commented a wildlife biologist. "When mother bears have the opportunity to take in another cub and care for 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 improves their chances.

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

Next, the bear family is anticipated to head out to the frozen ocean, where the youngsters will learn from their mother how to hunt seals and live on their own.

"It is heartening to know that the bears are caring for each other," concluded the researcher.