Personally, I'd rather the hunter paying the bribe take the risk that the bribe taker will also want the reward for identifying a poacher and end up shot by the anti-poaching patrols.
Of course, the prevailing theory is that if people have plenty of money they should also have exceptions without any risks because, well, they have plenty of money. As far as the 50k going to protecting lions, it's Africa and the but that 50k won't almost all vanish into the pockets of politicians and connected folks, yeah, gotcha.
It's a nice theory, but unfortunately, reality doesn't dance to that theoretical tune in Africa.
Read my other posts on this issue. As far as the fees go, there isn’t that much corruption in the conservation movement. It isn’t like these people want to kill the goose that lays golden eggs. Not being corrupt is entirely in their self interest. Everything else in Africa is corrupt as hell. Conservation is way at the bottom of the scale.
So, you’re an expert on Africa? Ever been there?
The PH polices his area himself, and trust me on that, they will hammer poachers, they are to a fault in love with the animals they hunt.
Of course, the politicians skim some, they do here as well. See: Clinton Foundation
Every pol has a “non profit” associated with them for tax free income potential.