"Taking on Tyson," Mike Tyson's new series featuring his entry into competitive pigeon racing, received some favorable reviews, but an animal rights group is not flying high over the Animal Planet project.

Members of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) are planning to protest outside Tyson's gated Nevada community in Henderson. [Updated 12:35 p.m.: An earlier version of this article said Henderson is in New Jersey.]

"If Mike Tyson truly loved birds, he would fight for their protection -- not force them into a 'race' that tears them away from their families and subjects them to injuries, exhaustion and death," PETA Vice President Lisa Lange said in a statement.

In the series, Tyson, who has a lifelong affection and connection to pigeons, puts together a team of veterans to compete in pigeon racing.

Animal Planet had no immediate response to the protest.

--Greg Braxton

Photo: Mike Tyson. Credit: Mat Szwajkis/AP