Many of us are not at all happy with trophy hunting in general and the African one in particular. It looses completely the fundamental essence of hunting which was getting food on the table.
Killing an animal is not supposed to be done with joy but by necessity; (some First Nations "thank" to the hunted animal for its sacrifice).
CristianM, exactly what do you think happens to the meat? Do you think it just gets left for the vultures and hyenas? Protein is the hottest commodity in most of Africa. Yes, in some parts of Africa, the meat goes to the local market. In most parts of Africa, the meat goes to the local villages, many of which supply the staff for the safari companies. "Trophy" hunters like Dugga Hunter actually feed more starving Africans and do more for local Africans that most of the NGO's combined. Who do you think pay for, build, and maintain wells in some of the remotest parts of Africa? Safari companies, that's who. Wells that benefit locals as well as wildlife.
Monies are also payed to the local tribes as well as part of the system, which in turn go toward building local infrastructure, like village wells, shools, etc. Those same locals then become the best protectors of wild life out there, because they know that they will lose out on all the revenue in addition to the protein. If the safari companies are forced out of business, the village loses that vital fiscal input, but they will still eat protein - only now it is poached with wire snares, or shot for the meat only.
If you do your research, it's generally the areas of Africa that don't allow hunting that have the least amount of wildlife - and it's not because of Safari hunting - it's because everything on 4 legs is seen only as a source of kabobs, and nothing else. Photo safaris don't pay for a 10th of what hunting safaris do. You really need to educate yourself.