Lamorinda Lass Pursues Long-Distance Love of Dolphins

Ashley Anne Englehart of Orinda was an intern at the Indianapolis Zoo when she developed an interest in working with aquatic animals and decided to focus on a career in that field.

She became a certified scuba diver, earned specialty certifications useful in the field of marine research, and was chosen for another internship at the Sea Life Park in Hawaii - where she started on the bottom and began working her way up the food chain, learning the ropes of marine mammal shows and taking care of the animals.

As her internship was ending she heard about an opening at the Atlantis Resort in Dubai and applied as a level 4 trainer (bottom level), and was chosen over numerous others from around the world, her proud father Hays reports. She signed a two year contract and moved to Dubai, sight unseen.  There, she was promoted to a Level 3 trainer last year and continues to add to her experience, and is now investigating other locations around the world where she can continue working with the animals she loves.

Ashley is back home with her family for a brief holiday.  Her father forwarded this picture of her on the job.