Cambridge Bay (Apr 10/06) - It's a bitter end to a sweet story.

Chance, the baby muskox found grappling for life on an ice road near Cambridge Bay 11 months ago, umbilical cord still intact, died March 31 from an apparent liver failure in his home at the Yukon Wildlife Preserve.

Chance the baby muskox, with his buddy Boo the caribou at the Yukon Wildlife Preserve. Chance was rescued after being abandoned by his mother in Cambridge Bay, but died a year later from liver problems. - photo courtesy of the Yukon Wildlife Preserve

Those who knew him best and nursed him to health are devastated.

"It's been a really sad week at the reserve. We're all having a hard time dealing with this," said sanctuary executive director Carolyn Thorne.

When Chance was only weeks old, he was sent from Cambridge Bay to the Yukon, where he made many friends.

People from around the world came to visit the little muskox, who was made famous after a media storm surrounded his rescue.

"He was a wonderful little guy. He was really personable, sweet, kind and gentle," said Thorne.

Although undecided, Thorne and those at the preserve hope to have Chance cremated and then spread his ashes around the sanctuary.

"We wanted to do something special because he was so special," she said.

Base manager for Adlair Aviation, Joann Laserich, found the tiny muskox almost a year ago lying about one kilometre from Cambridge Bay, with his mother nowhere to be found.

She named him Chance and, along with airline workers and community members, nursed him to health.

"Without the community of Cambridge Bay, he wouldn't have lived those 11 months," she said, adding she has no regrets given the outcome.

"I still think of him as my baby boy, and I am so sad at this news. I am surprised, disappointed and sad," said Laserich.

She was planning a trip to see Chance in May to celebrate his first birthday, but won't be making it to his memorial.

Back at the preserve, Thorne has more worries past her grief. Shortly after his arrival, Chance made friends with a baby caribou named Boo. The caribou is not taking the death lightly.

"They became the best of friends, and now Boo is sad because she's all by herself," said Thorne.

Boo was not scheduled to be introduced to the caribou herd in the preserve for a while yet, but now she may join the herd sooner than expected, said Thorne.