Final answer:
Mountain gorillas are indeed shy vegetarians and endangered, with their behavior characterized by a gentle and reticent temperament. Gorilla families are led by a silverback male, who guides and protects the group. They sometimes display tool-use behavior but mainly feed on vegetation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that mountain gorillas are shy vegetarians is true. Mountain gorillas primarily inhabit the forests of the Rwenzori and Virunga Mountains, especially in national parks across Rwanda, Uganda, and the Congo. They are an endangered species, with only about 700 individuals remaining in the wild. Their diet consists mostly of vegetation, making them herbivores, and they are known for their gentle and shy nature. However, they face threats from poaching, habitat loss, disease, and regional warfare, all contributing to their critical status.
Gorilla families are led by a dominant male known as a silverback, who is responsible for the safety and direction of the group. When gorillas approach each other or sense the presence of others, they communicate through various sounds, postures, and gestures to convey intentions and emotions.
The use of tools among gorillas is not common, but they have been observed using sticks to assess water depth or balance, as seen in the report of a gorilla using a branch to keep balance while reaching into swampy water to catch a fish, although their diet is primarily vegetarian.