Arctic Bear Mother Takes In Cub in Infrequently Documented Case
Scientists tracking wild polar bears in northern Canada observed something remarkably uncommon this autumn: a mother bear taking in a cub that was not biologically her own.
The half-decade-old mother and her 10- to 11-month-old cubs were observed and filmed during the annual polar bear journey along the Western Hudson Bay near Churchill, Manitoba, an area renowned for its polar bear population.
"This is uncommon," remarked a researcher with an international bear organization. "The reasons are unclear why it happens...but we know it is a rare event at all."
It's only the 13th known case of adoption out of 4,600 bears studied for nearly five decades in that region.
The mother bear was initially tagged as she emerged from her maternity den this springtime. At the time, she had one cub, which scientists tagged for research.
In the autumn, she was spotted once more, but this time with two cubs - the original cub and another without a tag. Scientists aren't sure what became of the new cub's biological mother, but they are attempting to locate her using genetic samples.
"The bears need every advantage they can get these days with climate change," commented a polar bear scientist. "If females have the opportunity to take in 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 50% chance of living into maturity, but having a maternal figure providing care improves their odds.
The young bears appear to be healthy, researchers said, and they will likely stay with their adoptive mother until they are about two-and-a-half years old.
Next, the bear family is anticipated to venture out to sea ice, where the youngsters will be taught from their mother bear 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 researcher.
