It may surprise you to learn that Edinburgh Zoo is home to a penguin who is a brigadier of the Norwegian King's Guard.
Brigadier Sir Nils Olav III is a king penguin who currently resides at the zoo. The name Nils Olav and its associated ranks have actually been passed down through three penguins in the years since 1972, with Nils Olav III being the current holder of the title.
The story of Nils Olav starts in 1961, when a lieutenant of the Norwegian King’s Guard named Nils Egelien visited the Edinburgh Military Tattoo for a drill display. While in the city, Egelien was captivated by the zoo's penguin colony.
