Everything about this story is ridiculous and incredible: a knighted penguin who lives in a Scottish zoo has been promoted to the rank of brigadier by the king of Norway.
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Residing in Penguins Rock at the Zoo, the king penguin was also awarded another arm badge for extraordinary new promotion and title after the honor of a knighthood, which was approved by Norwegian King Harald V, in a visit by the Guard soldiers in 2008.
The penguin was first adopted by the Norwegian King’s Guard in 1972 and promoted in 1982, (Corporal) and 1987, (sergeant).
Barbara Smith, acting chief executive for the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, said: “We are honoured to host His Majesty the King of Norway’s Guard as they bestow a prestigious new title upon our king penguin, Sir Nils Olav”.
A gold military pin was bestowed to the animal, clipped to his wing, during a special ceremony that saw more than 50 Norwegian soldiers in attendance.
Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen was the first to reach the South Pole in 1911, and Norway gave the Edinburgh Zoo its first penguin in 1913.
‘It is a very proud moment and represents the close collaboration between our two countries, Scotland and Norway’.
Visitors to Edinburgh Zoo on Monday found themselves in the front row for the inauguration of Sir Nils Olav, a King penguin at the zoo, and newly-appointed Brigadier.
His last name came from Norway’s king at the time, Olav V.
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Nils Olav, the official mascot for the Norwegian Royal Guard, of which it is an honorary member, is no stranger to honours. However, the friendship between Norway and the Edinburgh Zoo stretches back much further.
