Researchers witness rare polar bear adoption, capturing video of female caring for cub that was not her own

TL;DR

A rare case of polar bear adoption was observed and filmed by researchers in northern Canada.
The footage shows a female polar bear caring for a cub that is not her own, alongside her original cub.
Cub adoption in polar bears is a rare phenomenon, with only 13 documented cases in the study population over 45 years.
The observation occurred during the annual polar bear migration along the Western Hudson Bay in Churchill, Manitoba.
The adopted cub lacked an ear tag, differentiating it from the mother's biological offspring.
Both cubs are approximately 10-11 months old and are expected to stay with the mother until about 2.5 years of age.
Scientists believe this adoption provides the orphaned cub a better chance of survival into adulthood.
Polar bears are listed as a vulnerable species, with sea ice loss due to climate change being their primary threat.

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