43 JOURNAL OF TROPICAL BIOLOGY AND CONSERVATION 6 : 43 – 47, 2010 ABSTRACT. Small mammal trappings were conducted for 708 trap-nights in the Maliau Basin Conservation Area from 26 February to 10 March 2005. Twenty-five individuals of small mammals, comprising of 12 species, were captured. In addition, six species of large mammals were recorded. No large herbivores were directly sighted during the wildlife surveys. Tracks of wild pigs were recorded along the trail to the Camel Trophy Camp. Keywords: Mammals, Maliau Basin. INTRODUCTION The Maliau Basin Conservation Area (MBCA), also known as “The Lost World”, was originally part of the 10,000 km 2 timber concession held by Yayasan Sabah (Sabah Foundation). Though slated for logging in 1970, the basin continued to resist nearly all attempts to breach its formidable defences until 1981. The basin is elevated at more than 950 m a.s.l with the highest peak Gunung Lutong, lurking over 1900 m a.s.l over the Inarad villages to the northwest. The basin is covered mainly by two forest types: lower montane hill forest and submontane heath forest (Anon., 2002). A scientific expedition was conducted by Universiti Malaysia Sabah and Sabah Foundation in two phases, from 25 February to 24 March 2005, with the objectives to explore and to document the biodiversity in the MBCA, in order to prepare a conservation management plan for the unique habitat. Prior to this expedition, two scientific expeditions were carried out in MBCA. The first scientific expedition that was carried out in 1988 documented a variety of scientific findings: geology, soil, hydrology, geomorphology, climate, plant studies, animal studies and human impacts, with recommendations for future management. The second scientific expedition conducted in 1996, aimed to document the uniqueness of the Maliau Basin in an effort to conserve it, by preparing an inventory of flora and fauna of and reassessment of the hydrology system of Maliau Basin as a water catchment area. In the present expedition, a number of surveys have been conducted, starting from Ginseng Camp and its surroundings, up to Lobah Camp till Maliau Falls, within the dipterocarp and riverine forests. A survey from Ginseng Camp to Camel Trophy and its surrounding areas was also conducted including the heath forest. The objectives of this surveys were to document and to prepare a checklist of mammals within MBCA. MATERIAL AND METHODS Fifty-four live-cage traps, two harp traps and 12 mist nets were flown from Agathis Camp to Ginseng Camp to trap small mammals, including bats. Bananas were used as baits at the sampling areas around Ginseng Camp, Mammals of Maliau Basin Conservation Area, Sabah, Malaysia: A preliminary study Azniza Mahyudin 1 , Shigeki Yasuma 1 , Kalsum Md. Yusah 1 , Siti Sarayati Abdul Mawah 1 and Kho Ju Ming 2 1 Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Locked Bag 2073, 88999 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. 2 Maliau Basin Studies Center, P.O Box 60793, 91017 Tawau, Sabah, Malaysia.