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New military honour for penguin

News Type: Event — Seeded on Fri Aug 15, 2008 6:29 AM EDT
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A penguin who is a Colonel-in-Chief of the Norwegian Army is set to be bestowed with a new military honour.

Edinburgh Zoo penguin Nils Olav has been an honorary member and mascot of the Norwegian King's Guard since the 1980s.

Over the years, he has been promoted through the ranks and is currently the regiment's Colonel-in-Chief.

He is set to receive a further honour from the army, which has not yet been revealed, on Friday.

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{"commentId":2461703,"authorDomain":"mchllecat"}
Michelle-356612

lol I wonder how old the penguin is and who he gets to boss around,and do lesser officers give the proper salute lol

{"commentId":2461703,"threadId":"332428","contentId":"1750240","authorDomain":"mchllecat"}
    Reply#1 - Fri Aug 15, 2008 8:51 AM EDT
    {"commentId":2471595,"authorDomain":"redwolf"}
    Red Wolf

    Penguin receives knighthood at Edinburgh zoo:

    He wore an impeccable black and white coat, and his right sleeve was adorned with medals.

    Colonel-in-chief of the Norwegian army Nils Olav stood to attention as he received a knighthood this morning in front of 30 members of the Norwegian guard at Edinburgh zoo.

    Waddling out to receive the honour, his belly full of blue whiting fish, and standing at around 2 feet 8 inches high, he must have been the shortest knight in history.

    There was much fanfare: music, speeches and even a special message from King Harald V as the Norwegian guardsmen, who are in Edinburgh preparing to perform at the city's military tattoo, looked on.

    Darren McGarry, animal collection manager at the zoo, said: "Nils always recognises the Norwegian guardsmen when they come to visit him.

    "He loves the attention he receives at the ceremony and takes his time inspecting the troops.

    "We're all very excited about his new promotion."

    The practice of honouring penguins at Edinburgh zoo began in the early 1970s when a young lieutenant from the Norwegian army Nils Egelien fell in love with the penguin colony and happened upon the idea of having one of the king penguins as a regimental mascot and honorary member.

    Six-year-old Nils is the third penguin to take the role of receiving the honour after the original animal died in the 1980s.

    {"commentId":2471595,"threadId":"332428","contentId":"1750240","authorDomain":"redwolf"}
    • 1 vote
    Reply#2 - Sat Aug 16, 2008 6:19 AM EDT
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