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

The half-decade-old maternal bear and her nearly year-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 locale known for its polar bear population.

"This is uncommon," stated a researcher with a polar bear conservation group. "We don't really know why it happens...but we know it is a rare event at all."

This represents only the 13th known case of fostering out of nearly five thousand bears researched for almost fifty years in that region.

The mother bear was first captured as she came out from her birthing den this spring. At the time, she had one cub, which researchers tagged for study.

In the fall, she was seen again, but this time with two cubs - the original cub and another that was untagged. Scientists aren't sure what became of the new cub's biological mother, but they are trying to locate her using DNA analysis.

"The bears need every advantage they can get these days with a warming climate," noted a polar bear scientist. "When mother bears have the chance to take in another cub and care for it and successfully wean it, it's a good thing for the bears."

Polar bears in the wild only have a 50% chance of surviving into adulthood, but having a mother caring for them boosts their chances.

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

Following this, the bear family is expected to head out to sea ice, where the cubs will learn from their mother how to catch prey and live on their own.

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