Ellie Dobbs

Conservation Biology MSc student at the University of Kent🌱🦔 Currently researching Maltese snake populations 🇲🇹🐍

[Ellie Dobbs @Ellied2109]

1/6 Hi everyone! I'm studying Maltese snake distributions! As the islands are experiencing immense urban expansion, the snake species are at risk of severe habitat constriction impacting their distributions as well as suffering declines from other threats #DICECON2022

[BirdLife Malta @BirdLife_Malta]

🚨 The national Turtle-dove quota has been reached illegally before the season even started. Protected birds are under fire—again. Read our press release here:

#StopIllegalHunting #SpringWatch2025 #BirdLifeMalta

https://t.co/EtzlvXmmT2

[Elmley NNR @ElmleyNNR]

Stunning male crested newt from yesterday newt trapping survey. With a lifespan up-to 15 yrs from egg to eft to juvenile to maturity takes 2 - 4 yrs. Photo taken to record its unique belly markings for identification. (Trapping & handled under license) @KentRAG

[Ellie Dobbs @Ellied2109]

Watch: Juvenile Western Whip Snake Captured In Rare Hunting Stance In Malta: https://t.co/93sdIoMNxK

[Ellie Dobbs @Ellied2109]

@nxcare I’m currently stuck at Prague airport because the planes delayed by 2+ hours… my coach is meant to be at 00:05 but the plane isn’t landing till at least 1am… I can’t change my time on the Trainline app and you’re not responding on Facebook, PLEASE HELP ME

[Ellie Dobbs @Ellied2109]

@c0nservationtom What’s your favourite newt name?! 🦎

[Ellie Dobbs @Ellied2109]

Thanks for checking out my #DICECON22 tweets about my snake research in Malta! Im hoping to work further on the species and collaborate with local NGOs and environmental authorities to help safeguard these species! Check out my insta too! ‘_ecoellie’ 🐍🌺🐢❤️🌍#snakes #research

[Ellie Dobbs @Ellied2109]

@KatieSpencer229 This is the problem! Maltese snakes face urbanisation and loss of habitat, climate change causing dehydration mortalities, persecution, predation from rats and cats, road kill (big problem), and so much much all on one VERY small island :( I hope my research can make a difference

[Ellie Dobbs @Ellied2109]

6/6 Maltese snakes would benefit from education programmes to improve knowledge and ecocentric urban planning to account for faunal shifts into towns and mitigate the loss of natural habitats while maintaining structures like rubble walls and garden courtyards! #DICECON22

[Ellie Dobbs @Ellied2109]

@KatieSpencer229 Yes! We had many records of people killing snakes on purpose :( including anecdotal data that farmers will often kill snakes. There is a biblical story in Malta about St. Paul the apostle getting bitten by a snake when he shipwrecked there! So many people don’t like the snakes!🐍

[Ellie Dobbs @Ellied2109]

@AnnaJemmett There is a substantial number of records found in varying levels of urban areas! Too many to be explained by accidental relocation! We have over 700+ records now!! And perceptions vary but persecution is a main threat to the snakes for sure! 🐍🐍 #DICECON22

[Ellie Dobbs @Ellied2109]

5/6 Some species are also demonstrating a rural to urban shift as they regularly seek out gardens and houses, likely in search of prey like Spanish sparrows and rats as well as choosing to shelter in traditional Maltese rubble walls #DICECON22

[Ellie Dobbs @Ellied2109]

4/6 The results are the first to provide insight into exactly which of the four species exist on all three main islands and evidence also shows that some snakes are being accidentally relocated by cars to areas they have never previously been recorded! #DICECON22

[Ellie Dobbs @Ellied2109]

3/6 I initially collated snake records from social media, historic records, and local ecologists to create locality maps and then conducted 3 months of fieldwork to fill in the gaps in my research! I also helped rescue lots of snakes! #DICECON22

[Ellie Dobbs @Ellied2109]

2/6 I hope by analysing factors which may influence the Maltese snake distributions e.g. urban infrastructure density, habitat type and water availability etc, we can have a better idea of how best to conserve the species! #DICECON22

[Jen 💚 @JenKatWrites]

wait sorry, I found one exception, this man has to continue working, for his bird wife

[Ellie Dobbs @Ellied2109]

2 years ago today I started my undergraduate placement at @NatureTrustMLT and had the best year of my life helping rehabilitate loggerhead turtles! 🐢

[Ellie Dobbs @Ellied2109]

Despite the awful weather!! I am very excited to have continued on at kent uni and started my DICE masters today in conservation project management 🐘🐆🦒🦍🐬🦎@DICE_Kent

[Ellie Dobbs @Ellied2109]

An absolute privilege getting to work with these guys writing an article about my experiences rehabilitating sea turtles in Malta and witnessing first hand the impacts of marine pollution on our oceans! 🐋🐢

[The Peak @ThePeak_eco]

🚨 NEW ARTICLE 🚨

"We Need to do More to Protect Marine Life: My Experience"

By Ellie Dobbs (@Ellied2109)

https://t.co/eImjq7qbRX