In real life, the look and sound of the Wookiee was inspired by numerous different animals found on this planet. Filmmaker George Lucas' inspiration for Chewbacca was his loyal pet Alaskan malamute, Indiana, who would also inspire the name of Take a look at some of the animals that may be the closest creatures we have to Wookiees here in this galaxy. You might be surprised how many real-life animals resemble Chewie in more ways than one. All animals have a unique way of communicating anger, danger, hunger, pain and a variety of other emotions. Bears, though usually silent, often communicate by growling, grunting, or roaring when confronted by another animal. Wolves are well known for their unique howl, though there are several theories as to why they howl. Most wolf experts believe that wolves howl in order to keep in contact with their pack over great distances, or to summon a certain member of the pack. They will often howl at both sunset and sunrise during a hunt. While wolves do not howl when they are about to attack their prey, they will howl to inform rival packs of wolves about territorial boundaries. Wolf cubs tend to howl more frequently, especially when they are lonely for a missing pack member who is away on a hunt. While animals don't actually live in elaborate wroshyr tree houses like the Wookiees do on Kashyyyk, there are many large, furry, intelligent animals that prefer to spend most of their time in the treetops. In our planet's rainforests, animals like chimpanzees, orangutans, sloths, loris and others live in and amongst the trees. One primate group called the orangutan, which primarily spends most of their time in the trees, shows a high intelligence and has been documented by researchers for using primitive tools for feeding. Another tree-loving primate group -- chimpanzees -- are excellent problem solvers and considered to be closest evolutionary relatives to humans (approximately 95% of their DNA is in common with ours). Are there any animals as tall as Wookiees? Because Chewie stands around 2.28 meters tall (approx. 7.5 feet), not many real-life mammals -- besides perhaps basketball players -- can boast that kind of height. However, the Kodiak bear -- largest subspecies of the brown bear-- while standing on its hind legs can reach heights of 3 meters (10 feet) and can weigh as much as 680 kilograms or 1,500 pounds! Are there animals that live in tribes like the Wookiees? Many big cats like lions and tigers live in a family group called a pride with a social hierarchy among the animals. The females are all related (mothers, sisters, and aunts) and do the hunting, while the males, which are not related, are there to primarily defend and protect the pride. One male will often serve as the leader, also called the alpha animal, of the group, while the others follow. Wolves also live in packs that are also led by a similar alpha male. While some biologists believe this social family structure is for better hunting techniques, other scientists think the need for a leader and social tribe is for better reproduction, which leads to a better chance of survival. Wolf packs can be as large as 20 members. A new pack begins when a wolf leaves to claim another territory. Gorillas also live in family groups called troops. An adult male gorilla that is more than 12 years of age, will often lead the troop of up to 30 gorillas. It is the leader's responsibility to lead the others to areas with food, deal with inner conflict within the group, and to keep the troop safe. Unfortunately, the biggest threat to large animals such as gorillas, bears and wolves are in fact humans who are quickly taking over wildlife-populated areas for land development, road building, oil drilling, logging or mining. By destroying these habitats, animals are being driven from their usual areas, forcing them into areas already crowded with various animals competing for food, water and shelter. Humans are also to blame for illegal hunting, also called poaching, of these various animals for their fur and meat. Some fans think Chewie resembles another fabled character called Bigfoot also known as Sasquatch. Bigfoot is often described as a tall, fur-covered creature living in the remote wilderness areas of North America such as western Canada, the Great Lakes, the Rocky Mountains, the Pacific Northwest, and the forests of the U.S. Northeast. The name bigfoot comes from the large tracks left behind for people to discover. Witnesses have described Bigfoot's body as having short shaggy hair that is usually dark brown or black in color, but no clear photographic evidence has ever been captured. If you would like to learn more about the animals that inspired the Wookiees, please visit your local or school library for more detailed books.
