Eat Dolphin's(Whale's) Meat

From http://www.morguefile.com/

    I seem to have eaten dolphin's (whale's) meat. When I was very young, I don't remember it. Therefore, I don't eat them meat for a long time. In Japan culture, eating dolphin's (whale's) meat is outdated now. However, I can get them meat from the shop. It means some Japanese people eat dolphin now. If the dolphin and the whale become threatened species, I can understand people say "Don't eat dolphin!” I think the ecosystem breaks when exterminating. But I can't understand people say "the dolphin and the whale is cute (or cleverly), so don't eat dolphin!” The cow, the chicken and other animal is not cute and cleverly? I don't understand their opinions.