The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Knight to meet you
Sir Nils Olav, the highest decorated bird in the world, celebrated the anniversary of his promotion by welcoming a new penguin chick to his family.
The famous bird, who lives at Edinburgh Zoo, was promoted to Brigadier by his Majesty the King of Norway last year.
And to mark the historic anniversary, the knighted king penguin welcomed the newest addition to the northern rockhopper group at the zoo.
The adorable chick met Sir Nils Olav as he was moved into the large enclosure for the first time.
The chick became the first northern rockhopper penguin to be born at the zoo in eight years when it hatched on 25 April, World Penguin Day.
Dawn Nicoll, Penguin Keeper at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo, said: “It’s already been a year since Sir Nils became the highestranking penguin in the world.
“In that year a lot has happened at Penguins Rock, including the arrival of the first northern rockhopper chick born at the zoo in over eight years. “It’s been very exciting. “The pair met once the chick was big enough to move out of the penguin creche and into the large enclosure at Penguins Rock with the other gentoo, king and northern rockhopper penguins.
“They noticed each other and seem to get on very well.
“The chick has taken a liking to scurrying over when Sir Nils calls, which is fun to watch. They are both very special members of the penguin group.”
Sir Nils Olav was adopted by Norwegian troops in 1972 and has worked his way up the ranks going from Mascot to Brigadier Sir.
The guardsmen visit the penguin every few years and his keepers say “Nils always recognises the Norwegian guardsmen when they visit”.
In 2008, Nils Olav was given the prestigious honour of a knighthood – a position so high it had to be approved the King of Norway, King Harald V.