I’m a huge Star Wars fan. So, in celebration of this very special day I have decided to dedicate my blog this week to comparing a few of the animals of Star Wars to what I think their real-life counterparts may be based on.
If you would like to see images of the Star Wars animals just follow the hyperlinks by clicking on their names. This will take you to a third-party page (Wookieepedia) which is great for topping up your Star Wars knowledge.
Eopie
First off, we have the Eopie, a herbivorous mammal.
This creature is first seen in Episode 1: The Phantom Menace, where Qui-Gon Jinn can be seen riding one across the deserts of Tatooine pulling along new parts to repair the Jedi ships hyperdrive. Obi-Wan Kenobi can also be seen riding this creature in the new television series of the same name.
The Eopie, looks and acts very much like a camel, apart from its long snouted mouth, that almost looks like an elephant’s trunk. The behavior of the Eopie also is very camel-esk with its distinctive rhythm of walking. These animals seem to be easily tamable and friendly. They have great stamina and strength to match to be able to walk the harsh desert conditions.
Here is a picture of a Bactrian Camel that I took whilst at Planckendael Zoo in Belgium late last year. You can see the similarities in the appearance to the Eopie, especially if you can image the camel bald!
Bantha
The Bantha is our next Star Wars animal.
These large omnivorous mammals are also native to the desert planet of Tatooine. They have very big sharp spiraling horns and thick long hair that covers their bodies. Banthas also have a long shaggy tail that drags along as they walk. They live in herds that roam the desert land in search of food and water. In the Book of Boba Fett TV series, these animals were often seen during the flashbacks that Boba Fett had of his time on Tatooine. The Tusken Raiders of Tatooine tamed and rode the Bantha across the deserts, creating a unique bond with their animals.
“For banthas’ first canon appearance in A New Hope, they were played by Mardji, a 22-year-old female Asian Elepehant. It took six crew members to make Mardji a costume that would fit her and that she would tolerate.”
Bantha | Wookieepedia | Fandom
As can be seen from the above quote, Asian elephants are probably the closest animals to Bantha’s. With Mardji, the Asian Elephant being used in the films for actors to ride to give a more realistic feel. Although, I would like to point out that elephants do not produce blue milk like their Star Wars counterparts.
Varactyl
Varactyl are a lizard-like creature with a green and blue feather crest upon their head. They have a beak like a bird of prey and feet like a gecko’s that are able to stick to walls, allowing them to climb very easily. These giant reptavian’s are native to the world of Utapau. They are fearless creatures who carry their riders across dangerous and perilous terrain. Obi-Wan Kenobi rode a Varactyl named Boga whilst chasing General Grievous, the four armed mechanically enhanced Kaleesh male warlord.
Looking at these creatures, they are definitely a combination of a few animals. Their body looks very much like a monitor lizard like our Argus monitors with a mixture of our Polish Bantams hair dos. I would imagine that they are a lot calmer than our Argus monitors though, as they can be quite a handful.
My personal collaboration of our Argus monitor Havoc and a polish Bantams hair do. Although, it is rather jazzed up with a filter for dramatic effect.
Porg
These super cute bird-like creatures are found on the planet Ahch-To, where Luke Skywalker stayed during his exile. They live in large flocks that congregate on the cliffs of their planet above the oceans. Here they raise their chicks on nests they have built from whatever they can gather (they are quite the hoarders). They are extremely curious and loveable, with their mischievous antics and lovable squeaky songs.
Looking at the Porg, I would probably compare them between a mixture of a penguin and a puffin.
These adorable little creatures really are in a class of their own. With their cheekiness they are definitely one of my favorite Star Wars animals. Very much like our penguins here with their daily hilarious antics.
I hope you’ve enjoyed my very quick look into a few of the standout animals that call the Star Wars franchise their home. Obviously, I couldn’t sign off this blog without saying…
“MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU”.
