Panda
- "Banthas, all right."
- ―Luke Skywalker identifies a group of banthas, not considering that C-3PO might not be able to distinguish a bantha from a panda
A panda was distinct from a bantha,[1] which was a species of mammals native to[2] the planet Tatooine. In the planet's Jundland Wastes[1] in 0 BBY,[3] as the protocol droid C-3PO accompanied his master—a local moisture farmer named Luke Skywalker—in search of his astromech droid, R2-D2, Skywalker audibly confirmed the presence of several banthas nearby while peering through a pair of macrobinoculars. Due to his excitement, he did not consider whether C-3PO was able to distinguish a bantha from a panda.[1]
Soon after in the same year,[3] the Rebel Alliance deployed a pair of Lambda-class T-4a shuttles named Panda to capture the Galactic Empire frigate Priam.[4]
Behind the scenes
Panda was first mentioned in the 1977 Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope novelization by Alan Dean Foster.[1] It is one of multiple references to real world wildlife in Star Wars media.[5]
Appearances
- Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope novelization (First mentioned)
- Star Wars: X-Wing (Mentioned only) (In the name of the shuttle group Panda)
Sources
Notes and references
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope novelization
- ↑ The Wildlife of Star Wars: A Field Guide
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 X-Wing: The Official Strategy Guide establishes that the events of Star Wars: X-Wing's third tour of duty take place between the capture of Leia Organa and the Battle of Yavin. Both of those events occur in 0 BBY according to The New Essential Chronology. The battle occurs four days after Organa's capture per the reasoning here, and in Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, Luke Skywalker's search for R2-D2 takes place the day after the capture. Since the capture of the Priam takes place mid-way in the third tour of duty, it is assumed that Skywalker's search took place before the Priam's capture.
- ↑ Star Wars: X-Wing
- ↑
"May The Facts Be With You: Part One" – Star Wars Insider 93
