Polar Bear Mother Takes In Youngster in Rarely Documented Case
Researchers monitoring free-roaming polar bears in northern Canada witnessed something remarkably uncommon this fall: a female bear adopting a cub that was not biologically her own.
The five-year-old maternal bear and her 10- to 11-month-old cubs were observed and filmed during the yearly polar bear journey along the Western Hudson Bay near the Manitoba town of Churchill, an area known for its polar bear population.
"This is uncommon," stated a researcher with an international bear organization. "The reasons are unclear 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 the area.
The mother bear was first captured as she came out from her birthing den this springtime. At the time, she had one cub, which scientists tagged for study.
In the fall, she was spotted once more, but this time with two cubs - the initially tagged cub and another without a tag. Scientists are uncertain what became of the second cub's biological mother, but they are trying to identify her using DNA analysis.
"The bears need all the help they can get in the current era with a warming climate," commented a polar bear scientist. "When mother bears have the chance to pick up an additional youngster and care for it and see it to independence, it's a good thing for the bears."
Polar bears in the wild only have a 50% chance of surviving into adulthood, but having a maternal figure caring for them boosts their odds.
The cubs appear to be in good condition, researchers said, and they will likely remain with their mother until they are about two-and-a-half years old.
Following this, the family is expected to venture out to the frozen ocean, where the youngsters will learn from their mother how to hunt seals and live on their own.
"It is heartening to know that the animals are caring for each other," added the researcher.
