Nils Olav facts for kids
Nils Olav II in 2008
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| Species | King penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) |
|---|---|
| Sex | Male |
| Hatched | Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Residence | Edinburgh Zoo |
| Named after | Nils Egelien and Olav Siggerud |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  Norway |
| Service/ |
 Norwegian Army |
| Years of service |
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| Rank | Major General |
| Unit | Hans Majestet Kongens Garde (Major-General and military mascot) |
Major General Sir Nils Olav III, Baron of the Bouvet Islands is a famous king penguin who lives at Edinburgh Zoo in Scotland. He is the official mascot and honorary leader (called colonel-in-chief) of the Norwegian King's Guard. The name 'Nils Olav' and his military ranks have been passed down through three different king penguins since 1972. The penguin living today is Nils Olav III.
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History of Nils Olav
The story of Nils Olav began in 1913. A rich Norwegian businessman named Christian Salvesen gave a king penguin to Edinburgh Zoo. This was when the zoo first opened its doors.
The First Nils Olav
In 1961, the Norwegian King's Guard visited Edinburgh. They were there for a drill display at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo. A lieutenant (a type of army officer) named Nils Egelien became very interested in the penguins at the zoo.
When the King's Guard came back to Edinburgh in 1972, Nils Egelien arranged something special. He made it possible for the soldiers to adopt one of the penguins. This penguin was named Nils Olav. The name honored Nils Egelien and Olav Siggerud, who was a leader of the King's Guard group at that time.
Nils Olav I was first given the rank of visekorporal, which is like a lance corporal (a low military rank). He got a promotion every time the King's Guard visited the zoo. In 1982, he became a corporal. Then, in 1987, he was promoted to sergeant.
Nils Olav II and His Promotions
Nils Olav I sadly died shortly after becoming a sergeant in 1987. Another king penguin, who looked very similar, took his place. This new penguin was named Nils Olav II. He was about two years old at the time.
Nils Olav II continued to receive promotions. In 1993, he became a regimental sergeant major. Then, in 2001, he was promoted to 'honourable regimental sergeant major'. On August 18, 2005, he was given the special title of colonel-in-chief of the King's Guard. This means he became an honorary leader of the regiment.
During the 2005 visit, a bronze statue of Nils Olav was given to Edinburgh Zoo. The statue is about 4 feet (1.2 meters) tall. The words on the statue mention both the King's Guard and the Military Tattoo. Another statue of Nils Olav also stands at the King's Guard base in Oslo, Norway.
The next big honor for Nils Olav II was a knighthood. This special award was given during a visit by Norwegian King's Guard soldiers on August 15, 2008. King Harald V of Norway approved the knighthood. Nils Olav II was the first penguin ever to receive such an honor in the Norwegian Army.
Hundreds of people watched the ceremony at the zoo. About 130 guardsmen were on parade. A message from the King was read aloud. It said that Nils was a penguin "in every way qualified to receive the honour and dignity of knighthood."
Nils Olav III: The Current Penguin
A third penguin, Nils Olav III, took over the role sometime between 2008 and 2016. On August 22, 2016, he was promoted to brigadier. This is a very high military rank. More than 50 members of the King's Guard attended his promotion ceremony.
Most recently, on August 21, 2023, Nils Olav III was promoted again. He is now a major general, which is an even higher rank! Nils Olav is recognized by Guinness World Records as the highest-ranking penguin in the world.
See also
In Spanish: Nils Olav para niños
- William Windsor (goat)
- Wojtek (bear)
- Foo Foo (dog)
- List of individual birds
