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Researchers monitoring wild polar bears in northern Canada observed something remarkably uncommon this autumn: a female bear taking in a cub that was not biologically her own.

The half-decade-old mother and her 10- to 11-month-old cubs were spotted and captured on camera during the yearly polar bear journey along the Hudson Bay's western shore near the Manitoba town of Churchill, an locale known for its polar bear population.

"It's unusual," remarked a researcher with a polar bear conservation group. "The reasons are unclear why it happens...but we know it doesn't happen often at all."

This represents only the 13th known case of fostering out of 4,600 bears researched for nearly five decades in the area.

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

In the autumn, she was seen again, but this time with two cubs - the initially tagged cub and a second without a tag. Researchers aren't sure what became of the second cub's biological mother, but they are trying to locate her using genetic samples.

"The bears need all the help they can get in the current era with climate change," commented a polar bear scientist. "If females have the opportunity 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 natural world only have a 50% chance of living into adulthood, but having a maternal figure providing care improves their odds.

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

Next, the family is anticipated to venture out to the frozen ocean, where the cubs will learn from their mother how to hunt seals and live on their own.

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