World’s Highest-Ranking Animal Is a Royal Penguin in the Norwegian Army

Although, unlike representatives of several other species, Nils Olav III never proved himself in the field, he remains the only animal to have been awarded the military title, obviously symbolic, of Major General.

Noble Lineage

Also Baron of Bouvet Island, in the South Atlantic Ocean, this southern bird stands as the third and proud representative of a noble lineage. It all began in 1972: during a visit to Edinburgh Zoo, Nils Egelien, who leads the band of the Norwegian Royal Guard, developed a crush for one of the members of his colony of king penguins.

Promoted to Lance Corporal, Nils Olav, named after Egelien and the then-commander of the Guard contingent, swiftly rose through the ranks. Becoming the battalion’s official mascot, he was promoted to Corporal in 1982 and then to Sergeant in 1987.

Upon his death a few months later, he was succeeded by Nils Olav II, and then Nils Olav III, knighted in 2008 and elevated to Major General (the third-highest rank in the Norwegian Army) in 2023.

According to Guinness World Records, his title, honorary and exercised from the Scottish capital, technically makes him the most highly ranked animal in the world.

On the Battlefields

Among the famous animals who distinguished themselves directly on battlefields, Cher Ami stands out—a messenger pigeon who delivered a crucial message during World War I despite serious injuries. For this feat, which helped save an American unit surrounded, he received the French Croix de Guerre.

During the same conflict, a dog named Stubby participated in no fewer than 17 battles, detecting mustard gas attacks, and even aiding in the capture of a German spy. These exploits earned him a promotion to sergeant in the 102nd Infantry Division of the American Army.