An opossum who is cross-eyed has not only got her very own Facebook page but has become extremely popular on there with over 65,000 people becoming friends with her. The reason for the support is not really known but it is probably out of sympathy for the poor creature.
Heidi, is about two and a half years old and was found outside an animal shelter in the USA with her sister Naira. The pair were later taken to Leipzig Zoo after being shipped to Denmark with a third opossum, a male called Teddy. It is here that they will remain together, where they can get the care that they all need.
They will not actually be seen in public until July, giving them time to settle in to their new environment first. With all the hype that they have had surrounding them so far, it is likely that they will get quite a following once they actually appear in public.
The zoo has said that it is not planning any active marketing of Heidi, but with the popularity of the Facebook page, it seems like she will certainly be a popular attraction in the zoo. The zoo have also said that any money they raise from her, such as from sales of cuddly toys or even a single will go towards a project supporting rhinos in Bornea.
The hype has been compared to that attracted by the polar bear Knut who became a media star in 2007 when he was a cub, even appearing as a cover star in Vanity Fair magazine.
They also explained that the fact that she is cross-eyes is likely to have been caused by her diet or the fact that she is overweight. Sometimes fat deposits behind the eyes can make them go cross-eyes but this will not give her any pain. Also it should not effect her sight either because they tend to be nocturnal and use their noses to find their way around.