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Scientists tracking wild polar bears in northern Canada witnessed something remarkably uncommon this autumn: a mother bear adopting a cub that was not biologically her own.

The five-year-old mother and her 10- to 11-month-old cubs were spotted and captured on camera during the annual polar bear migration along the Hudson Bay's western shore near the Manitoba town of Churchill, an area renowned 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 is a rare event at all."

It's only the 13th known case of fostering out of nearly five thousand bears studied for almost fifty years in that region.

The mother bear was first captured as she came out from her maternity den this springtime. At the time, she had a single offspring, which researchers tagged for study.

In the fall, she was seen again, but this time with two cubs - the original cub and another without a tag. Scientists aren't sure what became of the second cub's biological mother, but they are attempting to locate her using genetic samples.

"These animals need every advantage they can get these days with climate change," noted a polar bear scientist. "If females 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 chances.

The cubs appear to be healthy, according to experts, and they will probably remain with their 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 learn from their mother how to hunt seals and survive on their own.

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