Taiwan's animal rights groups on Friday demanded rules on animal exhibitions and performances, appealing to the public to boycott venues that abuse animals.

The Taiwan Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and Taiwan Animal Equality Association (TAEA) said that abuse by private zoos, leisure farms or other petting occurs again and again but no regulations are in place on operators.

The groups released a survey on 36 well-known leisure farms and private zoos across the island and listed the 10 venues with the worst animal records.

Skyzoo, a Taichung leisure farm based in Taichung, as well as the highly popular Shin Kong Chao Feng Ranch and Resort in Hualien, made the list.

The SPCA also listed common problems, including a lack of drinking water or dirty water, excessive feeding, touching and exposure to photography, lack of medical treatment and insufficient living space among others.

"We believe the authorities are responsible for putting rigid regulations on operators' feeding and using animals for exhibitions or performances instead of starting checks after receiving public complaints," said the activists in a statement.

Under Taiwan's current regulations, animal owners are required to provide food, water and sufficient space for animals to move around as well as a safe living environment that is shaded, ventilated, illuminated, sufficiently warm and clean.