Bantha/Legends

"Baby Banthas are quite cute you know?"

- Darth Vectivus

Banthas were a sturdy and easily domesticated beast of burden that was mysteriously found all over the Galaxy. The bantha was as much at home being used as transport by the Tusken Raiders, or Sand People, on Tatooine as it was on grassy plains and frozen tundra. The banthas of Tatooine were known to form deep bonds with the Tusken Raiders of the planet, and often committed suicide if their riders were to die first. Banthas which died naturally were placed in vast graveyards, which held a kind of ceremonial reverence with the banthas.

The bantha was domesticated on most worlds, and was used for pulling heavy loads, transportation, and even as war beasts. The meat and hide of the bantha were much sought-after. While the origins of the Bantha were unknown, every world on which is existed laid claim to being its homeworld. Most banthas bred in captivity were trained as beasts of burden, and most of those were bred for desert environments. There were at least three distinct subspecies found on the planet Tatooine: the common bantha, the dwarf bantha, and the dune bantha. Noted for their docility, the dwarf race (also referred to as "miniature banthas") made amiable pets, as in the case of Ebenn Q3 Baobab's companion, Nuke. Another additional subspecies, the Kashyyyk bantha, was suitably adapted for life on the Wookiee homeworld.



Banthas used their dextrous, sensitive tongue as a sort of hand, pulling up grass and shrubs from the ground. Also located on the tongue were breathing and scenting spiracles, which allowed the bantha to determine an if an object was edible without stooping or reaching awkwardly. Male banthas raised their tongue as a way to signal their readiness to mate. The distinctive horns of the bantha grew at the rate of a knob each year. Thickness and condition of the horns were indicators of the bantha's health and environment. Most female banthas achieved just a single spiral during their lifetimes, while a male may achieve two full spirals. Because of this spiraling, and because banthas butted heads in ritual combat, a pair could entangle each other's horns. This almost always meant death for both banthas due to starvation. Banthas traveled in herds of up to twenty-five individuals, led by the oldest, strongest female. A herd which grew too large was split, with the second oldest and strongest female taking the new herd. The average bantha could live more than eighty years.

Dim-U was a religious order based in Mos Eisley that worshipped the bantha. In one format of the Corellian sport of Phrenbi, banthas were used as mounts.

Bantha's were also the focus of a children's story called The Little Lost Bantha Cub, which was the favorite bed time story Jacen and Jaina Solo.

Toy banthas
Apparently, stuffed banthas were popular toys among children in the galaxy, as Lumpawaroo enjoyed his when he was young.

Behind the scenes
For their first appearance in A New Hope, banthas were trained elephants in costume. Rereleases and the prequel trilogy featured digital banthas.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
 * Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
 * Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
 * Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
 * Marvel Star Wars 10: Behemoth from the World Below
 * The Star Wars Holiday Special (Stuffed bantha toy)
 * Star Wars: Galaxies (Stuffed bantha toy)
 * Star Wars Galaxies: The Ruins of Dantooine
 * Pearls in the Sand
 * Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
 * Darksaber
 * Junior Jedi Knights: Promises
 * Junior Jedi Knights: Anakin's Quest
 * Adventure in Beggar's Canyon
 * Agents of Chaos II: Jedi Eclipse
 * Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds