A new aquarium attraction at Loch Lomond is set to defy animal welfare campaigners and introduce three Asian otters born in the UK.

The otters, two young sisters and their mother, will take up residence later this month at the £3.5m Loch Lomond Aquarium being developed at Drumkinnon Tower near Balloch, by marine attraction and environmental specialists Merlin Entertainments (Sea Life).

The 115-foot tower will be home to the otter family Shona, Rona and Mona, who will share a tailor-made spacious enclosure with both indoor and outdoor landscaped areas and its own spectacular waterfall.

The Asian short-clawed otters, which were born at Hunstanton Sea Life Sanctuary in East Anglia, are slightly smaller than the native species.

Animal welfare groups, who opposed Merlins’ successful application for a zoo licence from West Dunbartonshire Council, have criticised the new Loch Lomond Aquarium as “a glorified fish tank”.

Groups have vowed to protest when the Aquarium opens this month but Sea Life otter curator Paul Bullimore said the company has Asian otters at four other attraction.

“Unlike many other species they like company, they don’t spend much time in water and they are active during the day. These creatures absolutely thrive in good quality enclosures, and the accommodation we’re providing for them at Loch Lomond will be five star otter luxury.”