All creatures great and small fascinate Secunda resident

From as young as he can remember, Thiemo Pösch has had a fascination with all creatures, whether on land, in the air or water, dangerous or not.

He always wants to learn more about animals. An engineer for Sasol, Pösch is also known as a local snake handler.

“From when I was a child, I have always loved all animals. I currently have a blind chameleon I am nurturing back to health,” said Pösch.

Born in Germany, Pösch moved to Secunda in 2007 and married his South African sweetheart in 2009. The couple met at the Sasol diving club in 2003 and maintained a long-distance relationship until he moved to South Africa.

They have a 13-year-old son and a 10-year-old daughter. Pösch had a pet snake when he was a child, and coming to South Africa, he then only realised how many more snake species there actually are.

His wife encouraged him to do a snake handling course, which he did, although her intentions were to deter him from handling them.

“That’s where the love for snakes bit me. Figuratively speaking,” said Pösch.

He did courses on how to handle and remove snakes and learnt the behaviour of even the deadliest snakes, such as the black mamba.

No matter where Pösch travels, he takes his snake handling gear with him.

“I am not a thrill seeker. I am more about wanting to help and saving the animals,” said Pösch.

Pösch had more dangerous encounters with a dolphin and a seal than with a snake.

“All animals are fascinating to me. A snake needs an advocate. Most people hate snakes and want to kill them. For me, they are misunderstood. They are God’s creatures,” said Pösch.

He knows what a venomous snake can do, therefore, he handles them cautiously. Pösch loves teaching people about snakes.

“They are actually fascinating creatures. Yes, the one can do harm and the other not, but both are fascinating in how they move and reproduce,” said Pösch.

His love and fascination for snakes have rubbed off on his son, who has his own ball python Athena. Pösch and his family enjoy scuba diving too. His children are now at the age where they can scuba dive as well. Pösch has had close encounters.

“I never blame the animal. I have had a few encounters where it could have ended differently. One was in Sodwana with a group of divers. We were snorkeling with some dolphins.

“The dolphins were mostly male and one female; they were mating. I was freediving between the males and the female, and to them, I was interfering with their mating.”

Pösch explained that both he and a male dolphin made eye contact, and he could read in its eyes that it was not happy with him.

Fortunately, he managed to get away with his last few breaths, but it could have turned out differently had the dolphin decided to hold him down. He had also encountered a sea lion who was defending its territory.

“Thankfully, I had an underwater camera and used this between me and the seal. It tried to swim around to get to me from another angle, but I kept the camera between us.

“They have strong jaws and big teeth. I was fortunate to get away, but it did not stop me from diving again the next day.”

Pösch has dived among different shark species.

With his experience, he can kind of predict the behaviours based on their movement, body language and interaction as sharks act a lot more on instincts than mammals.

“I have been lucky all my life, so I will definitely not stop interacting with animals,” said Pösch.

Although his wife was not happy that he brought a puff adder home after rescuing it from a vehicle that was being serviced at BMW, they both share a love for wildlife, animals and adventure.

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“Most animals, if you give them a way out or enough space, will not be a problem,” said Pösch.

Pösch and his family love exploring Africa.

“I have had the full African experience, with its potholes and more severe things. But this is a beautiful country with wonderful people and beautiful weather. Despite the electric fences and barbed wire, South Africa allows for a lot of personal freedom,” said Pösch.

He said there is so much to do and see in South Africa.

“There is too little life left to do everything,” said Pösch.

Pösch is also deeply involved with the aviation club, even though he does not fly or own a plane. And he is also an ardent parkrunner.

“I can’t just sit and relax. I am always busy. I am also a hobby chef and do all the cooking.”

Pösch wants to re-establish a diving group in Secunda. Anyone interested can contact him on 082 225 4264.

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