Bantha
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Commonly used as a beast of burden, the bantha is a large quadruped. With
their massive, spiral horns, banthas are an impressive sight. Their ability to
adapt to different types of climates took the bantha to several worlds other
than Tatooine, shrouding the beast's planet of origin in mystery. The bantha is
a herbivore and, on Tatooine, must survive on the sparse vegetation found on
the surface of the planet, mainly sandlichen mats that grow in protected
hollows or just under the sand. Because of their size, banthas get to
accumulate large reserves, which can allow the heavy creatures to survive for
up to a month without food or water.
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Although they prefer to move around at a slow pace, banthas can run
surprisingly fast when the need arises, and stories of dangerous bantha
stampedes are heard throughout the galaxy. Wild banthas live in herds and
show distrust of outsiders. Once tamed, however, banthas grow to enjoy the
company of other species. Some of their masters return the sentiment, like
the Sand People, who share a very special bond with their mounts on
Tatooine. The bantha's meat is used for food, the skin and fur for clothing,
while tools, ornaments and toys are carved out of the bones and horns. On a
barren planet such as Tatooine, nothing is wasted.