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Society
Photo: DPA

Cross-eyed opossum on diet to improve health and eye alignment

Published: 30 Jan 11 10:47 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/society/20110130-32759.html

A cross-eyed opossum from Leipzig Zoo has been put on a diet which will not only make her slimmer and healthier – it may also help her eyes look in the same direction.

Heidi the cross-eyed opossum became an internet sensation after being moved from North Carolina, via Denmark to the east German zoo.

Someone set up a Facebook page for her which has as of Sunday morning, prompted 284,547 people to note that they ‘like this’, and thousands to leave comments on how sweet they think she is.

Photobucket
Click here for a Heidi photo gallery.

Yet her eye problem – likely caused by fatty deposits behind her eyes – is symptomatic of her general obesity which zookeepers in Leipzig now say they are tackling.

“She is making clear progress with mobility, and can now use her tail much better to hold onto things,” said Maria Saegebarth, spokeswoman for the zoo.

She said the opossum’s obesity is thought to have been responsible for her eye problem.

Saegebarth said Heidi is becoming more active as she loses weight out of sight of the public in a private area of the zoo. She will be put in the new giant tropical hall which is due to be opened in July.

DPA/hc

What do you think? Leave your comment below.


Your comments about this article:

19:57 January 30, 2011 by jbaker
Why would you take an Obese/Cross- Eyed Possum from North Carolina to Germany?. What a Waste of Money!. She Sure Looks Cute! Pour Me Another Keg of Beer.
22:18 January 30, 2011 by LiterallySimon
Opossum (from America) ≠ Possum (from Asia)
01:33 January 31, 2011 by William Thirteen
even the possums in North Carolina are obese!
03:12 January 31, 2011 by Gretl
Is it just me, or aren't most (gargarge eating) oppossums heavy, yet not cross-eyed? Think she just has issues.
19:13 January 31, 2011 by toemag
Who cares....

Let mother nature deal with it her way....
13:44 February 1, 2011 by antrodemus
Those things only live 2-3 years, and that one is already about 2 years old. Are they going to have a funeral for it when it dies?
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