Baker Lake (Dec 13/06) - One of the more rare animals to be spotted in the Kivalliq met with an untimely demise in Baker Lake this past week.

A tiny albino caribou was mistaken for a white wolf preying on a small group of tuktu and shot just outside of the community.

Baker's Glenn McLean said he had never seen a true albino caribou during his 35 years in the North.

"I was told somebody else had shot one about four years ago in Baker, but, for whatever reason, I didn't hear about it at the time it happened, so I never got the chance to see it," said McLean.

"There were a bunch of us talking about this one in town after we heard what had happened.

"We were all a little upset that such a rare animal was shot, but it was more accidental than anything else."

The albino was reportedly running in the middle of a small group of caribou just outside the hamlet when it was spotted by hunters.

It was mistaken for a wolf because of its size and colour, and hunter David Mariq shot it in the hind quarters. Once the hunter got up close and realized what it was, it was too late and the animal had to be put down.

McLean said he'd seen pictures of an albino muskox, but this was the first time he'd seen any type of albino animal that wasn't living in captivity.

"I visited the Winnipeg Zoo this past summer and it had a white buffalo and a white black bear.

"They were pretty awesome to see, even if they were in a zoo."

McLean said when he first heard of the shooting, he thought it had to be a Perry caribou that had somehow got separated from its herd.

He said while he was in awe of seeing the albino, he wished it was still alive.

"I just wish it hadn't been shot.

"I know some people think they're not really that uncommon, but Baker is the caribou capital of Canada and this was the first time I saw one in more than 30 years.

"That shows you how common they are."

Thomas Elytook is regarded as one of the best providers in Baker and travels across the country to hunt.

He said albinos are not spotted nearly as much as some people seem to think they are.

"I saw one near Prince River about nine or 10 years ago, and that's the only one I'd ever seen before this one was shot," said Elytook.