Heidi the Cross-Eyed Possum Dies

This week, Heidi, the cross-eyed possum that became an Internet sensation in Germany, died.

Not familiar with Heidi? Heidi was a Virginia possum that gained popularity in December of 2010 after a photograph by the German tabloid Bild was published. The online community found Heidi to be quite adorable, and took to her quickly. She eventually went on to have a song on YouTube dedicated to her, and even inspired a line of children's stuffed animals.

In the United States, Heidi gained popularity by appearing on the late-night television show Jimmy Kimmel Live!. On the show, she made mock-Oscar predictions prior to the 83rd annual Academy Awards in a series of pre-recorded vignettes.

On Wednesday, it was reported by numerous news outlets that Heidi was euthanized by the zoo where she was housed, the Leipzig Zoo. The zoo staff affirmed that she had been put to sleep after weeks of struggling with a still unspecified health condition.

Were you familiar with Heidi, and did you follow her life in cyber-space? Let us know your thoughts in a comment!