This is irrelevant to cecil.
- Lions don't need to be culled. They aren't endangered, but they are not overpopulated.
- The people who received the money were not the people who were "caring" for Cecil. He was lured off the nature reserve he lived on to be shot by people who had contributed nothing to his welfare.
National parks in South Africa sell a lot of game meat and other products, but it's all from smaller ruminants. eg various antelopes, and notably in the skins zebra. No elephants, nor lions or any other predators.