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

The five-year-old maternal bear and her nearly year-old cubs were spotted and captured on camera during the annual polar bear journey along the Western Hudson Bay near Churchill, Manitoba, an area renowned for its polar bear population.

"This is uncommon," stated 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 fostering out of nearly five thousand bears researched for nearly five decades in the area.

The female bear was initially tagged as she came out from her birthing den this spring. Initially, she had a single offspring, which researchers tagged for research.

In the autumn, she was spotted once more, 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 birth mother, but they are trying to identify her using DNA analysis.

"These animals need every advantage they can get in the current era with a warming climate," noted a wildlife biologist. "If females have the opportunity to take in another cub and raise it and see it to independence, it's a good thing for the bears."

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

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

Next, the family is expected to venture out to sea ice, where the cubs will be taught from their mother bear how to hunt seals and survive on their own.

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