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Scientists tracking free-roaming polar bears in Canada's northern regions witnessed something exceedingly rare this fall: a female bear adopting a cub that was not genetically her own.

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

"It's unusual," remarked a scientist with an international bear organization. "The reasons are unclear why it happens...but we know it doesn't happen often at all."

It's only the thirteenth documented instance of adoption out of 4,600 bears researched for nearly five decades in the area.

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

In the autumn, 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 trying to locate her using genetic samples.

"The bears need every advantage they can get in the current era with climate change," noted a polar bear scientist. "If females have the opportunity to pick up an additional youngster and raise it and successfully wean it, it's a positive development for the bears."

Polar bears in the wild only have a 50% chance of living into maturity, but having a mother caring for them improves their odds.

The young bears appear to be in good condition, according to experts, and they will probably remain with their adoptive mother until they are about 30 months of age.

Following this, the bear family is expected to head out to the frozen ocean, where the youngsters will learn from their mother how to catch prey and survive on their own.

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