Arctic Ursine Mother Adopts Youngster in Rarely Documented Case

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

The five-year-old mother and her nearly year-old cubs were observed and filmed during the yearly polar bear journey along the Hudson Bay's western shore near Churchill, Manitoba, an area known for its polar bear population.

"It's unusual," remarked 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."

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

The female bear was first captured as she came out from her birthing den this springtime. Initially, she had one cub, which scientists tagged for research.

In the fall, she was spotted once more, but this time with two cubs - the initially tagged cub and another that was untagged. Researchers aren't sure what became of the new cub's biological mother, but they are trying to locate her using genetic samples.

"These animals need every advantage they can get these days with a warming climate," commented a wildlife biologist. "When mother bears have the chance to pick up another cub and raise it and see it to independence, it's a positive development for the population."

Polar bears in the natural world only have a fifty-fifty survival rate of surviving into maturity, but having a mother caring for them improves their odds.

The young bears are reported as in good condition, according to experts, and they will probably stay with their mother until they are about two-and-a-half years old.

Following this, the family is anticipated to head out to sea ice, where the cubs will be taught from their mother how to hunt seals and live on their own.

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