Mornings at Edinburgh Zoo are lively: the chatter of visitors, the calls of animals and birds and the bustle of zoo staff come together each day like a unique melody. But that morning was different. Along the zoo's main path stood a line of people in military uniform, holding national flags and flowers. A red carpet was laid down the middle, as if a king were about to be welcomed.

And that is exactly what happened. From one end of the ground a king penguin slowly stepped forward. His name is Sir Nils Olav III, and his gait carries confidence and dignity. That day a new honour was to rest on his shoulders: a knighthood, the honoured title of "Sir".

Readers may well ask: a penguin and a knighthood? This is no fairy tale but real history.

It all began in 1972, when Norway's royal guard visited Edinburgh Zoo during a tour of Scotland. There they met a group of king penguins for the first time, and on the spot they declared one penguin an honorary member of their guard. He was named Nils Olav, in honour of Norway's then King Olav V and a respected military officer.

So began an unusual tradition. On each visit, the Norwegian guard promoted the penguin's successor, from lance corporal to corporal, major, lieutenant colonel and eventually "colonel-in-chief".

The most memorable moment came on 22 August 2016, when the Norwegian guard conferred the title of "Sir" on him. A grand military parade was held during the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, and a medal of honour was placed around the neck of Sir Nils Olav III.

This is not just an amusing event but a symbol of respect for animals, friendship between countries and cultural ties. The current penguin is Nils Olav III, who has carried the honour since 2013. Most recently, in 2023, he was promoted to major general, which has been recorded by Guinness World Records as a unique case.

Sir Nils is not just a penguin; he is now a symbol of an unusual diplomatic bond between Scotland and Norway. Various events are held around the zoo's star. Children stand before him spellbound, some learn to walk like him, and many draw pictures of him to take to school.

Once a child told his father, "I'll be a soldier, and Sir Nils will be my boss!" The remark spread at the time and came to be seen as a sign of people's love and respect for Sir Nils Olav.

The animal world does not only entertain us; sometimes it makes history. Through his life, Sir Nils Olav III has shown that honour, leadership and friendship are not confined by nation, language or species.

Today, on World Penguin Day, we remember that zoo path, the red carpet, the parade and the steps of a penguin who raised his kind to a unique place of honour.

Sources cited: Smithsonian Magazine, Edinburgh Zoo, Guinness World Records.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.