A Case of Offspring Adoption in Free-ranging Polar Bears (Ursus Maritimus) | Zendy

Shan Atkinson | Zendy; Marc Cattet | Zendy; Susan C. Polischuk | Zendy; M. A. Ramsay | Zendy

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A Case of Offspring Adoption in Free-ranging Polar Bears (<i>Ursus Maritimus</i>)

Author(s) -

Shan Atkinson,

Marc Cattet,

Susan C. Polischuk,

M. A. Ramsay

Publication year - 1996

Publication title -

arctic

Language(s) - English

Resource type - Journals

SCImago Journal Rank - 0.503

H-Index - 59

eISSN - 1923-1245

pISSN - 0004-0843

DOI - 10.14430/arctic1187

Subject(s) - ursus maritimus , litter , offspring , mammal , ursus , bay , ecology , biology , marine mammal , reproductive success , zoology , geography , demography , population , pregnancy , arctic , sociology , genetics , archaeology

During a study of the reproductive ecology of polar bears (Ursus maritimus) in western Hudson Bay (Canada), we documented a case of litter adoption. In an eight-month period, a ten-year-old adult female lost a litter of two cubs-of- the-year and adopted three other cubs-of-the-year. This is the first reported case of natural offspring adoption in polar bears , and its significance as a reproductive strategy is unknown. Nevertheless, the observation raises questions regarding the social circumstances under which adoption may occur and the benefits or costs to maternal fitness in a solitary mammal such as the polar bear.

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