A heartwarming moment was captured by Canadian researchers as a polar bear ‘adopted’ a lonely cub in a rare display of compassion in the wild. The incident, which occurred in Northern Canada, stunned scientists who observed the mother polar bear taking in a cub that was not biologically her own. This phenomenon is extremely rare, with only 13 documented cases out of 4,600 polar bears recorded over the past 45 years.
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Evan Richardson, a polar bear research scientist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, expressed his surprise at the event, stating, “It’s just nice to know that the bears are looking out for each other. The bears need all the help they can get these days with climate change.” The heartwarming moment was captured in a photograph showing the mother bear with two cubs by her side, one of which was tagged for research purposes while the other cub appeared untagged and unrelated.
Researchers noted that instances of polar bear cub ‘adoption’ are rare and occur due to the strong maternal instincts of mother polar bears who refuse to abandon a lone cub. Alysa McCall, a scientist at Polar Bears International, highlighted the uniqueness of this behaviour, stating, “It’s unusual. We don’t really know why it happens…but we know it doesn’t happen often at all.” The cubs, estimated to be around 10 to 11 months old, were reported to be healthy and under the care of the mother bear, who will likely look after them until they are about 2.5 years old.
Polar bears face significant challenges in the wild, with only a 50% chance of surviving into adulthood. The presence of a mother bear greatly increases the cubs’ chances of survival, making this ‘adoption’ moment all the more significant. Richardson emphasised the importance of such acts of care among polar bears, especially in the face of climate change, saying, “If females have the opportunity to pick up another cub and care for it and successfully wean it, it’s a good thing for bears in Churchill.”
While researchers are unsure of what happened to the adopted cub’s biological mother, Richardson is conducting a DNA test on the cub to gain more insights into its background and possible reasons for the adoption. This touching display of compassion and care in the wild serves as a reminder of the bond between these majestic creatures and the challenges they face in their changing environment.
As we witness rare occurrences like the one captured by Canadian researchers, it sheds light on the resilience and instinctual behaviours of polar bears in adapting to their changing habitats. The conservation efforts and studies conducted by scientists play a crucial role in understanding and protecting these magnificent animals for future generations to appreciate and admire.