NEWSペンギンペンギン 将軍ペンギン准将

ペンギンの准将「ニルス・オーラヴ卿」がノルウェー軍を閲兵する凛々しい姿（画像）

イギリス・スコットランドにあるエジンバラ動物園のペンギンで、ノルウェー王国近衛部隊のマスコット「ニルス・オーラヴ卿(Sir Nils Olav)」が8月22日、イギリス訪問中の同国部隊を閲兵した。
吉川慧

イギリス・スコットランドにあるエジンバラ動物園のペンギンで、ノルウェー近衛部隊のマスコット「ニルス・オーラヴ卿(Sir Nils Olav)」が8月22日、イギリス訪問中の同国部隊を閲兵した。イギリスの「ガーディアン」などが伝えた。

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ノルウェー近衛部隊を閲兵するニルス・オーラヴ卿

ニルス・オーラヴ卿は2008年にはノルウェーのナイト（騎士）爵に叙されている。これまで、ノルウェー軍での階級は「名誉連隊長」だったが、今回の閲兵で「准将」に昇進した。

■なぜペンギンが、軍の階級と爵位を持っているの？

BBCによると、事の発端は1961年にエジンバラで開催された軍楽隊の祭典だった。祭典に参加していたノルウェー近衛部隊のニルス・エーギリン中尉が、動物園でペンギンに興味を持ったのがきっかけだったという。

72年にノルウェー近衛部隊が再びエジンバラに訪れると、「ペンギンを近衛部隊のマスコットにできないか」とイギリス側に要請したという。これが認められ、とある1羽のオオサマペンギンに「ニルス・オーラヴ」という名前と上等兵の階級が与えられた。この名前は、ニルス・エーギリン中尉とノルウェー国王（当時）オーラヴ5世に由来する。

これ以後、ノルウェー近衛部隊がエジンバラを訪れるたびニルス・オーラヴは閲兵し、昇進した。1982年には伍長、1987年には軍曹に昇進。87年、ニルス・オーラヴが死去すると、すぐに別のオオサマペンギンが「ニルス・オーラヴ（2世）」に指名された。

2005年には名誉連隊長に昇進。08年にはノルウェー国王ハラルド5世により騎士（ナイト）爵に叙され、「ニルス・オーラヴ卿（Sir Nils Olav）」となっていた。

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ニルス・オーラヴ卿の雄姿
'Nils Olav' the penguin receives his kni(01 of10)
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\'Nils Olav\' the penguin receives his knighthood from the Nowegian King\'s Guard at the Edinburgh zoo, on August 15, 2008. A penguin called Nils waddled into the history books Friday when he was knighted by a visiting royal Norwegian regiment in Scotland. The king penguin -- full name Nils Olav -- became the first black-and-white pint-sized Norwegian Sir with wings after inspecting the Norwegian King\'s Guard, over for Edinburgh\'s annual Military Tattoo. AFP PHOTO/Ed Jones (Photo credit should read ED Jones/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:AFP via Getty Images)
'Nils Olav' the penguin receives his kni(02 of10)
Open Image Modal
\'Nils Olav\' the penguin receives his knighthood from the Nowegian King\'s Guard at the Edinburgh zoo, on August 15, 2008. A penguin called Nils waddled into the history books Friday when he was knighted by a visiting royal Norwegian regiment in Scotland. The king penguin -- full name Nils Olav -- became the first black-and-white pint-sized Norwegian Sir with wings after inspecting the Norwegian King\'s Guard, over for Edinburgh\'s annual Military Tattoo. AFP PHOTO/Ed Jones (Photo credit should read ED Jones/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:AFP via Getty Images)
'Nils Olav' the penguin receives his kni(03 of10)
Open Image Modal
\'Nils Olav\' the penguin receives his knighthood from the Nowegian King\'s Guard at the Edinburgh zoo, on August 15, 2008. A penguin called Nils waddled into the history books Friday when he was knighted by a visiting royal Norwegian regiment in Scotland. The king penguin -- full name Nils Olav -- became the first black-and-white pint-sized Norwegian Sir with wings after inspecting the Norwegian King\'s Guard, over for Edinburgh\'s annual Military Tattoo. AFP PHOTO/Ed Jones (Photo credit should read ED Jones/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:AFP via Getty Images)
'Nils Olav' the penguin receives his kni(04 of10)
Open Image Modal
\'Nils Olav\' the penguin receives his knighthood from the Nowegian King\'s Guard at the Edinburgh zoo, on August 15, 2008. A penguin called Nils waddled into the history books Friday when he was knighted by a visiting royal Norwegian regiment in Scotland. The king penguin -- full name Nils Olav -- became the first black-and-white pint-sized Norwegian Sir with wings after inspecting the Norwegian King\'s Guard, over for Edinburgh\'s annual Military Tattoo. AFP PHOTO/Ed Jones (Photo credit should read ED Jones/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:AFP via Getty Images)
PENGUIN(05 of10)
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Newly promoted penguin, Regimental Sergeant Major Nils Olav, stands to attention before the Norwegian King\'s Guard, led by Second Lieutenant Herbjorn Folvik at Edinburgh zoo, August 17. The penguin was first adopted by the Norwegian King\'s Guard in 1972. and has since been promoted in 1982, (Corporal) and 1987, (sergeant). The Norwegian King\'s Guard is in Edinburgh to perform in the Edinburgh Militay Tattoo (credit:Ian Waldie / Reuters)
PENGUIN(06 of10)
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Newly promoted penguin Regimental Sergeant Major Nils Olav, inspects the Norwegian King\'s Guard at Edinburgh zoo August 17. The penguin was first adopted by the guard on a visit to the Edinburgh Tattoo in 1972, and has been since promoted in 1982, (Corporal) and 1987, (Sergeant). The Norwegian King\'s Guard is in Edinburgh for the Military Tattoo again (credit:Ian Waldie / Reuters)
BRITAIN/(07 of10)
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Tourists photograph King penguin Nils Olav as he walks past soldiers from the Norwegian King\'s Guard after he received a Knighthood at Edinburgh Zoo August 15, 2008. Edinburgh Zoo penguin Olav has been an honorary member and mascot of the Norwegian King\'s Guard since the 1980s and was made Honorary Colonel-in-Chief in 2005. REUTERS/David Moir (BRITAIN) (credit:David Moir / Reuters)
BRITAIN/(08 of10)
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King penguin Nils Olav receives a Knighthood from the Norwegian King\'s Guard during a ceremony at Edinburgh zoo , Scotland August 15, 2008. Edinburgh Zoo penguin Olav has been an honorary member and mascot of the Norwegian King\'s Guard since the 1980s and was made Honorary Colonel-in-Chief in 2005. REUTERS/David Moir (BRITAIN) (credit:David Moir / Reuters)
BRITAIN/(09 of10)
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King penguin Nils Olav walks past soldiers from the Norwegian King\'s Guard after he was given a Knighthood at Edinburgh zoo , Scotland August 15, 2008. Edinburgh Zoo penguin Olav has been an honorary member and mascot of the Norwegian King\'s Guard since the 1980s and was made Honorary Colonel-in-Chief in 2005. REUTERS/David Moir (BRITAIN) (credit:David Moir / Reuters)
BRITAIN/(10 of10)
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King penguin Nils Olav walks past soldiers from the Norwegian King\'s Guard after he was given a Knighthood at Edinburgh Zoo August 15, 2008. Edinburgh Zoo penguin Olav has been an honorary member and mascot of the Norwegian King\'s Guard since the 1980s and was made Honorary Colonel-in-Chief in 2005. REUTERS/David Moir (BRITAIN) (credit:David Moir / Reuters)

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デンマークの動物園でペンギンが集団脱走を試みる（動画）

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109歳のおじいちゃん、ペンギンたちのためにセーターを編む（画像）

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