Thala-sirens were large pinnipeds, found on the planet Ahch-To, among other watery worlds. Characterized by their udders, large flippers, and long snout, they were found basking on the cliffs of the sacred Temple Island, the site of the first Jedi Temple, when Rey traveled to the island to find Jedi Master Luke Skywalker. They were docile mammals who were not hunted and thus did not fear the natives of the island. They enjoyed sunning themselves along the coastal rocks of the island.
The females, which were known as sea sows, produced a nutritious green milk for their young. The milk was also harvested by Luke Skywalker and the native Lanai as a food source. Their docile nature meant they were not scared of people like Skywalker approaching for their milk, which proved to be a vital food source during his exile.
During the war between the First Order and the Resistance, thala-siren green milk was exported to Bubo Wamba Family Farms on the planet Batuu, who sold it at the Milk Stand in Black Spire Outpost. The thala-siren became part of a less common logo for Bubo Wamba Family Farms which was featured on their Novelty Drink Vessel.
Behind the scenes[]
The thala-siren which Luke Skywalker interacts with in Star Wars: Episode VIII The Last Jedi was a full-sized animatronic puppet, about 18 feet tall. It was sculpted to fit into the rocks of the filming location and had a mechanism on the inside so its head could tilt forward. The puppet was so big that it had to be transported to location by helicopter. Two puppeteers were inside the puppet during filming; one would operate the shoulders and the flippers at the top, while the other person would operate the belly and the udder mechanism at the bottom. Five more puppeteers performed the head movements, facial animatronics and lower flippers. Two smaller thala-sirens were staged in the background.