In Edinburgh Zoo, a king penguin holds the rank of major general in the Norwegian Army. Nils Olav III is not just a penguin; he is the mascot and colonel-in-chief of the Norwegian King's Guard. His military title has been passed down through generations of penguins since the first Nils Olav was adopted in 1972.
The story began when a lieutenant of the Norwegian King's Guard visited the Edinburgh Zoo in 1961. His interest in the penguins led to the regiment adopting one in 1972, naming it Nils Olav in honor of two officers. The penguin started with the title of lance corporal and consistently climbed the ranks with each visit from the King's Guard.
Following Nils Olav I's passing, Nils Olav II continued the legacy and was promoted to regimental sergeant major. In 2005, he achieved the title of colonel-in-chief. A bronze statue was unveiled that year, marking his significant role.
Then, in 2008, Nils Olav was knighted in a historic ceremony witnessed by hundreds, making him the first penguin to earn such a title in the Norwegian military. His qualifications were acknowledged in a citation read aloud at the event. Nils Olav III took over duties from his predecessors sometime after this ceremony.
In 2016, Nils Olav III was promoted to brigadier, and reportedly by 2023, he reached the rank of major general. This remarkable ascent means that Nils Olav III outranked the human who originally inspired the penguin's adoption until the human's death in December 2020. Guinness World Records recognizes him as the highest-ranking penguin in military history.
