Exceptional Polar Bear Adoption Caught on Video by Researchers

In an astonishing discovery, experts in Canada's northern regions recorded footage of a polar bear exhibiting maternal care for a cub not biologically hers.

"Adoption among polar bears is quite unusual. Within our research group, we've only noted this in 13 instances over the past 45 years," explained Scientist Evan Richardson from Canada's environment and climate change department.

This remarkable footage, captured amid the annual polar bear migration at Churchill, Manitoba—a renowned hub for these majestic creatures—depicts the nurturing behavior of a bear towards an adopted cub.

The researchers met the mother bear during spring when she emerged with a single, tagged cub from her maternity den. Recently, they encountered her again, this time accompanied by an untagged second cub, as Richardson shared with AFP.

"Upon reviewing our records, we understood she had taken in another cub," he elaborated.

The documented footage displays the cubs exploring their snowy surroundings, their adoptive mother keeping a watchful gaze. One segment shows a cub hurrying to join its companions.

The cubs, both approximately 10 to 11 months old, are expected to stay under their mother’s care until they are around two and a half years old.

"Confirmation of this adoption brought mixed emotions, predominantly positive," stated Alysa McCall, a scientist with Polar Bears International. "This highlights the extraordinary nature of polar bears, serving as a hopeful reminder of their communal care."

Details concerning the biological mother of the adopted cub remain unknown.

However, having a maternal figure is crucial for increasing the survival odds of the young bear, noted Richardson.

"It’s heartwarming to see the female bear taking responsibility for another cub, enhancing its survival prospects," he commented.

"Female polar bears are exceptional caregivers. Often, if they encounter a lone cub on the open tundra crying for attention, their nurturing instincts drive them to offer protection," he added.

Currently, the global polar bear population is estimated to be around 26,000. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, climate change poses the greatest risk to their existence as a vulnerable species.