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Researchers monitoring free-roaming polar bears in northern Canada witnessed something exceedingly rare this fall: a female bear adopting a cub that was not genetically her own.

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

"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 thirteenth documented instance of adoption out of 4,600 bears researched for almost fifty years in that region.

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

In the fall, she was spotted once more, but this time with two cubs - the original cub and a second without a tag. Researchers are uncertain what became of the new cub's biological mother, but they are trying to identify her using DNA analysis.

"These animals need all the help they can get in the current era with climate change," noted a wildlife biologist. "When mother bears have the chance to take in another cub and care for it and see it to independence, it's a positive development for the population."

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

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

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

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