Arctic Ursine Mother Takes In Cub in Rarely Documented Instance
Scientists tracking free-roaming polar bears in northern Canada observed something exceedingly rare this autumn: a mother bear taking in a cub that was not genetically her own.
The half-decade-old mother and her nearly year-old cubs were spotted and captured on camera during the annual polar bear migration along the Western Hudson Bay near Churchill, Manitoba, an locale renowned for its polar bear population.
"This is uncommon," remarked a researcher with an international bear organization. "We don't really know why it occurs...but we know it doesn't happen often at all."
It's only the 13th known case of adoption out of 4,600 bears studied for almost fifty years in that region.
The mother bear was first captured as she emerged from her birthing den this spring. Initially, she had one cub, which scientists tagged for research.
In the fall, she was seen again, but this time with a pair of cubs - the original cub and a second without a tag. Researchers aren't sure what became of the new cub's biological mother, but they are attempting to identify her using genetic samples.
"These animals need every advantage they can get in the current era with a warming climate," noted a wildlife biologist. "When mother bears have the chance to pick up an additional youngster and raise it and see it to independence, it's a good thing for the population."
Polar bears in the natural world only have a fifty-fifty survival rate of living into maturity, but having a maternal figure caring for them boosts their chances.
The young bears are reported as in good condition, researchers said, and they will likely remain with their mother until they are about 30 months of age.
Next, the family is anticipated to venture out to the frozen ocean, where the cubs will learn 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," concluded the scientist.
