The notable Major General Sir Nils Olav III, Baron of the Bouvet Islands, resident of Zoo of Edinburgh, has just reached a historic milestone.
Contrary to expectations, Sir Nils Olav is not a human personality, but a king penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) aged 21. In an unprecedented decision taken in August 2023, the Norwegian Army awarded him this honor.
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With the nomination, Nils Olav was recognized last Thursday (5) by Guinness World Records as the penguin with the highest military rank in the world.
It is worth noting that the penguin serves as the official mascot of the King's Guard of Norway and holds the impressive third-highest rank in the Norwegian Army.
(Image: World Guinness Records/Reproduction)
The connection between penguins and Norwegian royalty is not something new. Edinburgh Zoo has become home to a special lineage of these birds that have a peculiar role as mascots of the King's Guard.
Nils Olav, the featured king penguin, follows in the tradition of two of his predecessors, who also received this honor.
The relationship dates back to 1913, when the first king penguin was presented to the zoo by the Norwegian family of tycoon Christian Salvesen, a large boat owner. Over time, the zoo formed a colony of these majestic animals.
The story gained a special chapter in 1961. During the visit of the Norwegian King's Guard to The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo festival, Major Nils Egelien was enchanted by the colony of king penguins. The birds' dignified and elegant march reminded him of the soldiers in his regiment.
Such admiration led to a landmark event in 1972. On a new visit to the city, Egelien began the process for the guard to adopt a king penguin as its official mascot.
The chosen bird was named Nils Olav, a tribute to Major Nils Egelien and the Norwegian king of the time, Olav V. Since then, Nils Olav's legacy has been maintained and revered for generations at Edinburgh Zoo.
(Image: World Guinness Records/Reproduction)
Sir Nils Olav, Edinburgh Zoo's celebrated king penguin, has a history of honors and recognition that many humans could only dream of.
With periodic visits from the guards of the Norway During his participation in The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, each generation of Nils Olav has seen constant promotions since the first of the lineage was adopted as a mascot in 1972.
(Image: World Guinness Records/Reproduction)
Promotion to cable in 1982;
Rise to sergeant in 1987;
Appointment as regimental sergeant major in 1993;
Appointment as honorary regimental sergeant major in 2001;
Promotion to colonel commander in 2005;
Knighthood in 2008;
Recognition as brigadier in 2016;
And the recent appointment as major general in 2023.
Such honors do not go unnoticed by Nils Olav himself. According to Alison MacLean, the zoo's animal team leader, the penguin clearly demonstrates its appreciation for the attention.
“He delights in hustle and bustle and is definitely a penguin with a flair for the dramatic. His performance in August, passing everyone, was impeccable,” revealed MacLean, as recorded by Guinness World Records.
Nils Olav's ascending military career certainly adds a unique charm to his presence at the zoo.