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Scientists tracking wild polar bears in Canada's northern regions observed something exceedingly rare this autumn: a mother bear taking in a cub that was not genetically her own.

The half-decade-old mother and her 10- to 11-month-old cubs were spotted and filmed during the yearly polar bear migration along the Western Hudson Bay near Churchill, Manitoba, an area known for its concentration of Arctic bears.

"This is uncommon," remarked a scientist with a polar bear conservation group. "The reasons are unclear why it happens...but we know it doesn't happen often at all."

It's only the 13th known case of fostering out of 4,600 bears studied for almost fifty years in that region.

The female bear was initially tagged as she came out from her birthing den this spring. At the time, she had a single offspring, which researchers marked for study.

In the autumn, she was spotted once more, but this time with a pair of cubs - the original cub and a second without a tag. Scientists aren't sure what became of the new cub's birth mother, but they are attempting to identify her using DNA analysis.

"These animals need all the help they can get these days with climate change," commented a wildlife biologist. "When mother bears have the chance to take in an additional youngster and care for it and successfully wean it, it's a good thing for the population."

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

The young bears are reported as in good condition, according to experts, and they will likely remain with their adoptive mother until they are about two-and-a-half years old.

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

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