He took him from Indonesia all the way to Canada.
Published on Aug 6, 2026 at 4:13 PM
Francis Metivier was on a surfing trip in Indonesia and was excited to soak up the waves. Instead, he accidentally got involved in a rabbit rescue and ended up making a friend for life.
When Metivier first saw Asa, a white rabbit locked in a cage suspended above the ground, he was perplexed. The woman who owned Asa had gotten him to entertain her kids, but he was soon forgotten and left alone. It wasn’t hard to see that the rabbit needed help, so Metivier abandoned his surfing plans and made it his mission to rescue Asa.
“I asked if she would be willing to let me take him,” Metivier told The Dodo. “She asked me to pay for him. I don’t like buying animals because I don’t believe they are property, but in that moment, my priority was Asa.”
Metivier freed Asa from his cage and made a big decision. He was taking Asa home with him — all the way from Indonesia to Canada.
Metivier secured Asa safely in a box, then took a short boat ride, an hour-long car ride and a 12-hour ferry ride. The surfer then got a hotel room for the day so Asa could finally stretch his legs and experience freedom for the first time. He hopped all around the room and the garden, letting his adorable personality emerge.
“It’s such a privilege to see him express himself,” Metivier said.
Metivier named the rabbit Asa because it means hope, and that’s exactly what he felt watching his new friend hop with joy.
Soon it was time to board another boat and then a plane. Finally, Asa and Metivier made it home, and Asa was thrilled to begin his new life.
Asa and Metivier are now best friends. The surfer went to great lengths to get Asa to safety, and in the end, it was so worth it.