Additional Coverage:
- Researchers capture video of rare polar bear adoption (cbsnews.com)
Rare Polar Bear Adoption Warms Hearts in the “Polar Bear Capital of the World”
CHURCHILL, MANITOBA – In a heartwarming turn of events along the Western Hudson Bay, researchers in northern Canada have captured extraordinary video footage of a wild female polar bear adopting and caring for a cub that isn’t her own. This rare occurrence offers a glimmer of hope amidst ongoing conservation efforts for the vulnerable species.
Evan Richardson, a scientist with Canada’s Ministry for Environment and Climate Change, noted the infrequency of such events. “Cub adoption is relatively rare in polar bears. We’ve documented 13 cases in our study population over the last 45 years,” Richardson stated.
The remarkable footage was gathered during the annual polar bear migration in Churchill, Manitoba, a region widely recognized as the “polar capital of the world.” Researchers initially encountered the mother bear in the spring, emerging from her maternity den with a single, tagged cub-a common practice for population study. Weeks later, a subsequent encounter revealed a surprise: a second, untagged cub alongside the pair.
“When we went back and looked at the data, we realized that she had adopted a second cub,” Richardson explained. The video shows the two cubs, estimated to be 10 to 11 months old, navigating a snow-covered landscape under the watchful eye of their adoptive mother. They are expected to remain with her until they reach approximately 2.5 years of age.
Alysa McCall, a staff scientist with Polar Bears International, expressed a mix of emotions upon confirming the adoption. “It’s just another reason why this species is so incredible, why they’re so fascinating and interesting, and it gives you a lot of hope when you realize that polar bears may be looking out for each other out there,” McCall shared in a video provided to the CBC.
While the fate of the adopted cub’s biological mother remains unknown, experts agree that having a maternal figure significantly enhances the cub’s chances of survival into adulthood. “It’s really a feel-good story to know that this female bear is looking after this cub and that it has a chance at survival,” Richardson emphasized. “These female polar bears are such good moms, they’re maternally primed to take care of offspring, and when there’s a lone cub out on the tundra, bawling and crying, they just take them under their wing.”
Globally, an estimated 26,000 polar bears exist. The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists them as a vulnerable species, with climate change-induced sea ice loss posing the most significant threat to their survival.
This heartwarming adoption isn’t the only recent observation of interspecies care in the wild. Earlier this year, scientists in Panama documented capuchin monkeys carrying howler monkey babies.
However, what initially appeared to be a “heartwarming story” was later determined to be a “social tradition” or “fad” among young male capuchins, often resulting in the death of the howler infants. In contrast, the polar bear adoption stands as a genuine testament to maternal instinct and resilience in the wild.
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- Researchers capture video of rare polar bear adoption (cbsnews.com)