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

The five-year-old maternal bear and her 10- to 11-month-old cubs were observed and captured on camera during the yearly polar bear journey along the Western Hudson Bay near the Manitoba town of Churchill, an locale known for its concentration of Arctic bears.

"This is uncommon," stated a scientist with a polar bear conservation group. "We don't really know why it happens...but we know it doesn't happen often at all."

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

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

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

"These animals need all the help they can get in the current era with climate change," commented a polar bear scientist. "If females have the chance to pick up another cub and raise it and successfully wean it, it's a good thing for the population."

Polar bears in the natural world only have a 50% chance of surviving into adulthood, but having a mother caring for them improves their odds.

The cubs are reported as in good condition, researchers said, and they will probably remain with their adoptive mother until they are about 30 months of age.

Next, the family is expected to head out to sea ice, where the cubs will be taught 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 scientist.