Vets are developing a long-range tranquilliser drone to fire anaesthetics and minimise human-elephant conflict in Thailand.

Weapons company Narac Arms Industry, Thai company Pulse Science, and the Nern Plub Wan Animal Hospital collaborated to develop the flying machine capable of neutralising wild elephants from afar.

Natthee Intasen, Pulse Science chief, said the project came about as more locals and rangers have been seeing the jumbos in agricultural and residential areas.

The drone, which can be mounted with a long-range tranquiliser gun, is expected to be ready for use by next year, with hopes it will reduce the number of injuries caused by violent encounters with the elephants.

Thailand has an estimated 2,000 Asian elephants living in the wild where they wander freely among protected forests. Male Asian elephants, unlike African elephants, roam alone once they are over 10 years old while females remain with the herd.

There is sometimes conflict when they come into contact with humans on roads and in villages so wildlife rangers are tasked with monitoring their movements.

An estimated 3,000 elephants in the country are also kept in captivity to work in the tourist industry or at religious festivals and weddings. A small number still work in commercial logging.