Beginning with Indira Gandhi in the 1970s but have always run into international diplomatic or legal hurdles, until now.

Beginning with Indira Gandhi in the 1970s but have always run into international diplomatic or legal hurdles, until now.

On his 72nd birthday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the animals into an enclosure spread over 10km in the presence of chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and wildlife experts.

Cheetahs, the world’s fastest mammals, have been reintroduced to India.

Cheetahs, the world’s fastest mammals, have been reintroduced to India.

The Cheetahs were brought from Namibia to India in a special cargo flight Boeing -717.

The Cheetahs were brought from Namibia to India in a special cargo flight Boeing -717.

The flight landed in Gwalior in the morning, after which they were taken to Kuno National Park in a helicopter.

The flight landed in Gwalior in the morning, after which they were taken to Kuno National Park in a helicopter.

The cheetahs were flown from southern Africa for their reintroduction in India seven decades after the species was declared extinct in the country in 1952.

Earlier this month, four cheetahs captured at reserves in South Africa were flown to Mozambique, where the cheetah population has drastically declined.

Cheetahs were once widespread in India and became extinct in 1952 from hunting and loss of habitat.

Cheetahs were once widespread in India and became extinct in 1952 from hunting and loss of habitat.