Elizabeth Kaplan with Della, the aquarium's 27-year-old gray seal.

Harbor seal Zoey and her new pup, Zara, born on July 13. In addition to harbor seals, the aquarium is home to gray seals and California sea lions.

Elizabeth Kaplan (in blue shirt) stands by as trainers tend to the marine mammals.

Zoey and her new pup, Zara, relax at poolside. Many of the marine mammals at the aquarium were rescued and could not have survived on their own in the ocean.

Elizabeth Kaplan looks on as a trainer feeds Della a fish.

Elizabeth Kaplan tells guests about the marine animals and the challenges they had overcome.

A large part of Elizabeth Kaplan's internship involved taking care of the everyday tasks needed to keep the system running and the animals healthy.

In the kitchen preparing the fish.

The seals and sea lions eat more than 60 pounds of fish every day.

Elizabeth Kaplan's internship including preparing buckets of fish for the seals and sea lions, and cleaning the kitchen afterward.

In the lab checking salt levels in the water.

Elizabeth Kaplan checks the salt levels in a sample of pool water.