Heidi (opossum)

Heidi was given to Leipzig by Denmark's Odense Zoo in May 2010, although she was originally raised in a wild animal sanctuary in the U.S. state of North Carolina after being found as an orphan. While this condition did not affect the opossum's health in any way, mainly because opossums are nocturnal, it would nonetheless have made her vulnerable to predators in the wild. The zoo put Heidi on a strict diet shortly after her arrival; it was reported in late January that she had already lost 400 grams (about one pound). Heidi was euthanised by the zoo veterinary staff on 28 September 2011 after several weeks of struggle against arthritis and other old age health conditions. The life span of opossums in the wild is normally two years. ==Popularity==

In December 2010, German tabloid Bild featured photographs of various animals to be featured in Leipzig Zoo's upcoming Gondwanaland exhibit. Pictures showing Heidi, the cross-eyed Virginia opossum, quickly became a phenomenon on the Internet. Although the zoo declined any plans for marketing the small marsupial, Heidi's quick rise to fame led to a popular Facebook page. Heidi reportedly received an offer to appear at the 83rd Academy Awards on 27 February 2011 via video broadcast, but instead appeared on the late-night show Jimmy Kimmel Live! in a series of pre-taped vignettes, in which she predicted the winners of three Oscar categories. She missed one prediction, choosing the long-shot Oscar-nominated 127 Hours to win over the eventual Oscar-winning ''The King's Speech'' for Best Film. A Heidi stuffed animal was included in some gift bags available to Oscar guests. ==References==