Plight of Lions Highlighted...

Credit: Time Live

Brian May, original member of supergroup Queen, was in Cape Town last night to lend his support to the Born Free Foundation and Pride of Africa, two initiatives that assist the conservation and rehabilitation of lions in Africa.

At the Grand Cafe in Granger Bay, May and his protege, Kerry Ellis, of the Queen Musical, dedicated their efforts to Virginia McKenna, an active member of the Born Free Foundation and tireless supporter of animal conservation.

May strummed to an awestruck audience while Ellis sang I Loved a Butterfly. They then launched into an adaptation of Born Free, a song originally written by Don Black for the 1966 movie Born Free about Elsa the lioness, which won an Academy Award for Best Original Song. McKenna starred in the film.

May ended his set by singing Crazy Little Thing Called Love , written by the late Queen front man Freddie Mercury.

The Born Free Foundation and Pride of Africa are joining forces to launch a project by Wild in Art and the Shamwari Group to place lion sculptures, painted by significant artists, throughout the V&A Waterfront to highlight the plight of the lions. The project is to be launched in May next year.