LOU WATERS, CNN ANCHOR: Some migrating birds will head south in a couple of months. But a group of American ducks already has flown to Moscow. And the mallards are receiving a special reception after their travels. Here's CNN's Steve Harrigan.</s>STEVE HARRIGAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The bronze statues of ducks in Moscow's Novodevichy Park were a gift from former U.S. first lady Barbara Bush. There used to be nine of them.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: At first, one disappeared, then the big one, then the two little ones.</s>HARRIGAN: In the children's story "Make Way for Ducklings," the mallard family is searching for a safe home. (on camera): The last duck in line, Quack, was stolen entirely. Then Lack, Mack and Mrs. Mallard were cut off at the knees. (voice-over): That fact hurt their creator the most.</s>NANCY SCHON, MOSCOW: When I heard they were stolen and cut off at the legs in Moscow, I was devastated. It was such a violent act. I really couldn't believe that anybody would do anything quite so violent. It was -- well, they're kind of like my children.</s>HARRIGAN: So she's made new ones, thanks to a $50,000 grant from a Boston bank -- welcome news to duck-sized Muscovites, puzzling for some of their elders.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): They steal everything here. I don't understand what all the fuss is over some little ducks.</s>WATERS: Today, former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev welcomed the bronze birds to their new home as a tribute to his wife, Raisa. Raisa Gorbachev first admired the originals back in Boston in 1991, inspiring the then-American first lady Barbara Bush to give the gift. Mrs. Gorbachev died, as you may know, of leukemia one year ago Wednesday. She's buried in the park's cemetery.
American-Sponsored Tribute to Raisa Gorbachev Restored in Moscow