Sir Nils Olav, A Penguin, Inspects A Guard Of Honor

By Sarah Larimer  

Source: The Washington Post

Nils Olav!!!! (Edinburgh Zoo)

Here is a picture of Nils Olav, a king penguin at the Edinburgh Zoo.

Although, actually, I suppose we should be proper about it? Here is a picture of Brigadier Sir Nils Olav, a king penguin at Edinburgh Zoo.

Please be sure to note that extremely legit and impressive title. Because it is brand-new.

Nils Olav — named for the man who organized his adoption in the 1970s (Nils Egelien) and the man who was, at the time, King of Norway (Olav V) — on Monday was bestowed new title, becoming “Brigadier Sir Nils Olav,” according to an Edinburgh Zoo news release.

Our guy Nils Olav was already a knight; that happened back in 2008. On Monday, he was promoted during a “special ceremony” with soldiers of King of Norway’s Guard, the zoo’s release states. The soldiers were in the Scottish city for an event called the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

“Sir Nils paraded his way up Penguin Walk, whilst inspecting the soldiers of the Guard,” the release noted.

Oh, good. There is video of this.

This penguin probably outranks you

 

Play Video1:18

Watch as Sir Nils Olav, a penguin at the Edinburgh Zoo, inspects his soldiers in the Royal Norwegian Guard after receiving the rank of brigadier. (Gillian Brockell/The Washington Post)

“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,” Barbara Smith, acting chief executive officer for the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, said in a statement. “It is a very proud moment and represents the close collaboration between our two countries, Scotland and Norway.”

The Associated Press in 2008 recapped Nils Olav’s backstory a bit, which I found to be quite helpful:

A resident of Edinburgh Zoo in Scotland, the original Nils Olav was made an honorary member of the King’s Guard in 1972 after being picked out as the guard’s mascot by lieutenant Nils Egelien. The guards adopted him because they often toured the zoo during their visits to the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, an annual military music festival, according to zoo spokeswoman Maxine Finlay.

(Also a more recent ABC News report notes that Nils Olav is actually Nils OlavIII, but you know what? Let’s just ignore that part. RIP, Nils Olavs I and II.)

Here’s a brief look at the penguin’s previous career achievements, according to a zoo news release:

1982: Promoted to Corporal

1987: Promoted to Sergeant

1993: Promoted to Regimental Sergeant Major

2001: Promoted to Honourable Regimental Sergeant Major

2005: Promoted to Colonel-in-Chief

2008: Knighthood (dang.)

“This is just a simply fantastic example of the great relations between our two countries, and it couldn’t be a more charming tradition,” Brig. David Allfrey, producer and chief executive of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, said in a statement. “At the Tattoo we of course have many inspecting officers but this is by far my favourite. Congratulations, Brigadier Olav!”

INDEED.

Here’s a couple more pictures from Brig. Sir Nils Olav’s big day, via the zoo’s Facebook page.

Keep it together. This penguin is watching. (Edinburgh Zoo)

No, really, guys, this is serious. (Edinburgh Zoo)

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Note that this article appeared in the source with the title below: 

King penguin promoted to brigadier as promising military career continues at Edinburgh Zoo