Nils Olav

55°56′40″N 3°16′20″W / 55.94444°N 3.27222°W / 55.94444; -3.27222

Nils Olav
Nils Olav II in 2008
SpeciesKing penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus)
SexMale
HatchedEdinburgh, Scotland
ResidenceEdinburgh Zoo
Named afterNils Egelien and Olav Siggerud[1]
Military career
Allegiance Norway
Service / branch Norwegian Army
Years of service
  • 1972–1987 (first)
  • 1987 – after 2008 (second)
  • before 2016 – present (third)[2]
Rank Major General
UnitHans Majestet Kongens Garde (Major-General and military mascot)

Major General Sir Nils Olav III, Baron of the Bouvet Islands (Norwegian: [ˌnɪls ˈôːlɑv]) is a king penguin who resides in Edinburgh Zoo, Scotland. He is the mascot[3][4][5] and colonel-in-chief of the Norwegian King's Guard. The name 'Nils Olav' and associated ranks have been passed down through three king penguins since 1972, the current holder being Nils Olav III.[2][6]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference eikli was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b "King penguin made a Brigadier in Edinburgh". BBC News. 22 August 2016. Archived from the original on 23 August 2016. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
  3. ^ "Sir Nils Olav". Edinburgh Zoo. Archived from the original on 17 August 2017. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
  4. ^ Panganiban, Roma (4 April 2013). "Sir Nils Olav, Norway's Penguin Knight". mentalfloss.com. Archived from the original on 8 April 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference bbc2008 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ "Norwegian Knight". Scandinavian Press. Vol. 15, no. 4. Fall 2008. p. 9.