Polar Ursine Maternal Figure Adopts Youngster in Infrequently Recorded Case

Scientists monitoring wild polar bears in northern Canada observed something remarkably uncommon this fall: a mother bear adopting a cub that was not biologically her own.

The half-decade-old maternal bear and her 10- to 11-month-old cubs were spotted and captured on camera during the annual polar bear journey along the Hudson Bay's western shore near the Manitoba town of Churchill, an area renowned for its concentration of Arctic bears.

"This is uncommon," 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."

This represents only the 13th known case of fostering out of 4,600 bears studied for almost fifty years in that region.

The female bear was first captured as she emerged from her birthing den this spring. Initially, she had a single offspring, which scientists tagged for study.

In the fall, she was spotted once more, but this time with a pair of cubs - the original cub and a second without a tag. Scientists aren't sure what happened to the second cub's biological mother, but they are trying to locate her using DNA analysis.

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

Polar bears in the natural world only have a 50% chance of surviving into adulthood, but having a maternal figure providing care boosts their chances.

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 two-and-a-half years old.

Following this, the bear family is anticipated to venture out to the frozen ocean, where the cubs will be taught from their mother how to hunt seals and survive on their own.

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