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

The five-year-old maternal bear and her nearly year-old cubs were spotted and filmed during the annual polar bear migration along the Western Hudson Bay near Churchill, Manitoba, an locale known for its polar bear population.

"It's unusual," 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."

This represents only the thirteenth documented instance of adoption out of 4,600 bears researched for nearly five decades in that region.

The female bear was initially tagged as she came out from her maternity den this springtime. 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 initially tagged cub and another that was untagged. Scientists are uncertain what became of the second cub's birth mother, but they are trying to identify her using DNA analysis.

"The bears need all the help they can get in the current era with a warming climate," noted a polar bear scientist. "When mother bears have the opportunity to take in another cub and raise it and successfully wean it, it's a positive development for the population."

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

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

Next, the family is anticipated to head out to sea ice, where the youngsters will be taught from their mother how to catch prey and survive on their own.

"It is heartening to know that the bears are looking out for each other," added the scientist.