The Making of Star Wars (Enhanced Edition)

by J.W. Rinzler

The “bantha” was named Mardji, a 22-year-old, 8,5 0 0-pound female Asian elephant, who was normally a resident of Marine World Africa U.S.A. (partially dressed, with the elephant trainer in the Tusken Raider outfit). “It took six men to build up [her costume] and they worked for a month,” says Ron Whitfield, director of general theater at the amusement park. The base was a “howdah,” or elephant saddle. The curving horns were made from flexible home ventilation tubing. Mardji’s shaggy coat was created from palm fronds, while the head mask was molded from chicken wire and then sprayed with foam to give it shape; the beard was made from horse hair. Although she was able to water-ski for spectators at the park, the bantha tail, made of wood and covered with thick bristles, gave Mardji problems—but her handler gave her apples, which compensated for the costume.