The blackback was a reclusive avian predator native to the forests of Chandrila, specifically within the Hanna Wild Game Reserve and other sanctuaries. These birds of prey were considered a desirable hunting target, leading to their near extinction, after which the Chandrilan government afforded them protection. Their diet primarily consisted of squalls and other small rodents, which they would sometimes hunt by soaring around thermal vents.
These elusive, carnivorous blackbacks preyed upon squalls and diminutive rodents. They frequently circled the thermal vents in Chandrila's Crystal Canyons, ambushing prey and occasionally causing disturbances for climbers.
Before the proliferation of farms on Chandrila, blackbacks freely roamed across much of the planet. However, their status as prized hunting trophies led to their near extinction centuries before the Galactic Civil War. This decline resulted in a dramatic increase in the squall population, which threatened crops. Consequently, the Chandrilan government granted the blackback protection, allowing them to inhabit large preserves like the Hanna Wild Game Reserve.
During the time of the Galactic Empire, hunters riding ghorlas pursued blackbacks in the Hanna Wild Game Reserve. Participation in these hunts required a permit costing over 200,000 credits per kill. These funds were allocated by the Chandrilans to support breeding programs for the birds. The Empire's blockade of Chandrila resulted in the suspension of all permits, except for those held by Imperial officers.
The blackback was initially referenced in the 2003 Star Wars Roleplaying Game sourcebook Coruscant and the Core Worlds, published by Wizards of the Coast.