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Scientists tracking wild polar bears in Canada's northern regions witnessed something remarkably uncommon this autumn: a female bear adopting a cub that was not biologically her own.

The half-decade-old mother and her nearly year-old cubs were observed and captured on camera during the yearly polar bear migration 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 occurs...but we know it is a rare event at all."

It's only the 13th known case of fostering out of nearly five thousand bears researched for nearly five decades in the area.

The female bear was first captured as she emerged from her maternity den this springtime. Initially, she had one cub, which researchers marked for study.

In the autumn, she was spotted once more, but this time with two cubs - the original cub and a second that was untagged. Researchers aren't sure what happened to the new cub's biological mother, but they are trying to locate her using DNA analysis.

"The bears need all the help they can get these days with a warming climate," noted a polar bear scientist. "When mother bears 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 providing care improves their odds.

The cubs appear to be in good condition, researchers said, and they will probably stay with their mother until they are about 30 months of age.

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

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