Staff Biographies

Dr. Virginia Landau
Vice President/Director, Chimpanzoo

Dr. Virginia Landau fascinates listeners with stories of the chimpanzees she has known and aided. As head of the Institute’s ChimpanZoo program, she receives calls from people all over the world needing advice related to the care of captive chimpanzees or seeking help for a chimpanzee in need.

She is vice president of ChimpanZoo: Research, Education and Enrichment Program, based in Tucson, Ariz., which works to improve the lives of captive chimpanzees through consultation, environmental enrichment and research.

Dr. Landau frequently lectures on primate conservation and emotional well-being. Among her special interests are research and design of new zoo habitats and the enhancement and enrichment of existing habitats for great apes.

She also has directed the development of a data collection system and database for chimpanzee behavioral research which includes an unprecedented wealth of information on captive chimpanzee behavior.

Dr. Landau is a visiting scholar at the University of Arizona, Department of Psychology, where she received her doctoral degree in Comparative and Neuropsychology. She also is active in the production of educational materials for classroom use and is currently writing a series of children’s books on primates.

To inquire about engaging Dr. Landau as a speaker, please Contact Nona Gandelman.