World Watch
January 7, 2011 1:53 PM

Heidi, the Cross-Eyed Opossum, Becomes a Star in Germany

By
Joshua Norman
Topics
World Watch

Heidi, the Virginia Opossum currently in residence at the Leipzig Zoo in Germany.

(Credit: AP Photo)
First, it was Knut, the overwhelmingly cute polar bear. Then, it was Paul, the World Cup oracle octopus. Now, the latest German zoo resident to gain massive fame is Heidi, the cross-eyed opossum, currently in residence at the Leipzig Zoo.

Heidi will not be on public view until July, but she already has 50,000 Facebook fans, a YouTube hit and a stuffed doll modeled after her, reports the German news magazine, Der Spiegel.

The adorable, Muppet-like opossum shot to fame after a German tabloid went to photograph the Leipzig Zoo's new "Gondwanaland," a theme area designed to recreate primitive times, according to the report. All it took was one look, and the German public was in love.

Heidi

(Credit: Facebook photo)
Heidi is a Virginia Opossum, which the Ohio Department of Natural Resources describes as "one of the oldest and most primitive species of mammal in North America. This animal is little changed from its ancestors 70 million years ago." Besides being the only marsupial to originate in North America, the species is most famous for giving rise to the phrase "playing possum," because they frequently react to threats by pretending to be dead.

Zoo officials speculate that her crossed eyes might have been caused by a bad diet early in life, Der Spiegel reports. The eyes might look off, but they cause the animal no pain, and don't affect her ability to get around, according to the zoo. She is, aside from her looks, a normal opossum.


  • Joshua Norman

    Joshua Norman is an associate editor at CBSNews.com.

Add a Comment See all 17 Comments
by MORSEGLASS July 20, 2011 5:23 AM EDT
thats not the only cross eyed opossum. i have had one for about a year
Reply to this comment
by redway633 January 12, 2011 7:56 PM EST
I had a girl friend once that was cockeyed like that possusm, she was missing one ear too, lost it in a bar fight. Other than that she was a nice girl.
Reply to this comment
by buzzard1975 January 12, 2011 6:57 PM EST
SHE IS CUTE AS A BUTTON.I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE ONE.BLESS HER LITTLE HEART I HOPE THEY TAKE GOOD CARE OF HER.SOOOO CUTE.
Reply to this comment
by robert807 January 12, 2011 4:12 AM EST
I picked ao= pussum when it was hit buy a car and nursed back to health thing was mean when it got healthy again they lock up like a brick when there scared
Reply to this comment
by NinthSt78 January 9, 2011 2:21 PM EST
Looks like love at first sight. Don't settle for less than a German optometrist-- they make the best lenses by far.
Reply to this comment
by barbaram99 January 9, 2011 1:39 AM EST
Heidi's eyes are crossed..I feel for her. I was borned cross eyeed and the Dr uncrossed them fore I was 3. That is why one eye is totally blind. Heidi's eyes are not normal and they should not put her on display due to her handicap.
Reply to this comment
by gruven13777 January 8, 2011 1:54 AM EST
Looks like Nancy Pelosi.
Reply to this comment
by AlanW3225 January 7, 2011 11:32 PM EST
I had wondered where Rahm Emanuel had gone. Now I know.
Reply to this comment
by barbaram99 January 7, 2011 10:09 PM EST
I wish they stop this.. Don't make fun of her.
Reply to this comment
by tallturtle January 7, 2011 5:35 PM EST
This isnt a oppossum its my ex mother in law . Im glad she finally found work.
Reply to this comment
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