Project Nim – in pictures

Nim Chimpsky, the chimpanzee breast-fed and raised like a human child by Stephanie LaFarge Photograph: PR

Nim plays with a piece of chalk and a slate at LaFarge's home Photograph: PR

Nim with Professor Herbert Terrace, the director of Project Nim, and Stephanie LaFarge Photograph: Harry Benson/PR

Nim being taught American Sign Language Photograph: PR

Columbia University student Laura-Ann Petitto teaching Nim sign language Photograph: Sarah Kuklin/PR

Nim with psychology grad student Bob Ingersoll, who befriended the chimp after he was returned to the primate research centre in Tuxedo, New York Photograph: PR

A chimp apes Nim Chimpsky in a publicity shot for the film documentary Project Nim Photograph: PR

More than 60 sign language teachers worked with Nim. He would form attachments and build trust with a particular teacher, only to have them leave and another student arrive Photograph: PR

The actor playing Professor Herbert Terrace with Nim Chimpsky Photograph: Susan Kuklin/PR

After Nim had spent five years living as part of a human family, Terrace decided he had enough data and sent the chimpanzee back to the laboratory Photograph: PR