Jerba/Legends
The jerba was an equine pack animal and beast of burden native to the desert planet Tatooine. Many jerbas were raised to produce meats, milk, pelts and leather.
Biology and appearance
A horse-like creature, the jerba was a four-legged beast of burden with a hide of long, shaggy fur and an elongated head topped by two crooked horns. Jerbas had long, hairy tails and hooved feet.[1]
History

Jerbas were raised by colonists on Tatooine to provide pelts, leather, meat and milk. The Human herder Swilla Corey raised jerbas, working as a ranch hand near the Motesta Oasis, and traded jerba goods at nearby farming communities. Disaster struck when a sandwhirl and a pack of anoobas killed or scattered Corey's entire herd, forcing her to beg in Mos Eisley. There, she recognized the brand of one of her jerbas outside Chalmun's Spaceport Cantina, and was informed that the creature belonged to the Pacithhip scout Ketwol. In fact, Ketwol had discovered and taken in several of the animals after they fled towards his ship, Swilla attempted to steal back her property, but the Pacithhip caught her in the act. The two came to an agreement. Swilla was given shelter and allowed to return to the desert with her jerbas, and often returned to visit her new friend.[2]
Products made with jerba hide included jerba leather boots, worn by Leia Organa during her enslavement to Jabba Desilijic Tiure,[4] and jerba-skin rugs such as the one kept by Obi-Wan Kenobi on the floor of his hut in the Dune Sea.[5] Padmé Amidala's japor snippet necklace featured a cord made of jerba leather.[6] Jabba the Hutt also had a taxidermized jerba head hanging in this throne room.[7] Some belts were also made with jerba leather during the struggle between the Galactic Republic and the reconstituted Sith Empire.[8]
Behind the scenes
Jerba is derived from Djerba, the most famous Tunisian island and the biggest North African island. (See also Tunisia for other Tunisian-inspired names.)
Two jerbas are seen near the entrance of Chalmun's Spaceport Cantina in Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, and Deacon was to have kept a jerba outside Tosche Station in one of the film's deleted scenes.[9]
Appearances
- Star Wars: The Old Republic (Mentioned only)
- Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith novelization (Mentioned only)
- Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith unabridged audiobook (Mentioned only)
- A Hunter's Fate: Greedo's Tale webstrip
- Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope (First appearance)
- Star Wars Galactic Spy (Non-canonical appearance)
- Rebel Force: Renegade
- File:SWG logo sm.png Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided (Cut content)
- Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi (Appears as a trophy head in Jabba's palace)
Sources
1977 Topps Star Wars Series 1 (Card: The droids are reunited!) (backup link) (Picture only)
"Anchorhead: The Lost Scenes" – Star Wars Insider 35
- Skywalking: The Life and Films of George Lucas
- Star Wars: Behind the Magic (Picture only)
- Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary
- Star Wars: Episode I The Visual Dictionary
- The Wildlife of Star Wars: A Field Guide
- The Official Star Wars Fact File 38 (TAT24, Tatooine - Mos Eisley) (Picture only)
- Star Wars: The Complete Visual Dictionary
- Inside the Worlds of Star Wars Trilogy
- Star Wars: Complete Locations
- Star Wars Galaxies: The Complete Online Adventures bonus DVD
- Star Wars Insider 98
- The Making of Star Wars: The Definitive Story Behind the Original Film (Picture only)
- The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
Dining at Dex's on Hyperspace (article) (content removed from StarWars.com; backup link)
Swilla Corey in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link)
Notes and references
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- ↑ 2.0 2.1
Swilla Corey in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope
- ↑ Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary
- ↑ Star Wars: Complete Locations
- ↑ Star Wars: Episode I The Visual Dictionary
- ↑ Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi
- ↑ File:SWTOR mini.png Star Wars: The Old Republic—Item: "Unidentified Jerba Leather Belt MKII" from
- ↑
"Anchorhead: The Lost Scenes" – Star Wars Insider 35